biology

Integrin beta 3

Integrin beta 3 is a biology topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Integrin beta 3 rather than just read about it. In short: Integrin beta-3 (β3) or CD61 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ITGB3 gene. CD61 is a cluster of differentiation found on thrombocytes.

Key takeaways

Integrin beta 3 belongs to biology; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Integrin beta 3 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Integrin beta 3 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Integrin beta-3 (β3) or CD61 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ITGB3 gene. CD61 is a cluster of differentiation found on thrombocytes.

Structure and function The ITGB3 protein product is the integrin beta chain beta 3. Integrins are integral cell-surface proteins composed of an alpha chain and a beta chain. A given chain may combine with multiple partners resulting in different integrins. Integrin beta 3 is found along with the alpha IIb chain in platelets. Integrins are known to participate in cell adhesion as well as cell-surface-mediated signaling.

Role in endometriosis Defectively expressed β3 integrin subunit has been correlated with presence of endometriosis, and has been suggested as a putative marker of this condition.

Interactions CD61 has been shown to interact with PTK2, ITGB3BP, TLN1 and CIB1.

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Integrin beta 3

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Integrin beta 3 claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Integrin beta 3 before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Integrin beta 3 ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Integrin beta 3

In research: Integrin beta 3 appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Integrin beta 3 in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Integrin beta 3 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Genes on human chromosome 17, Human chromosome 17 gene stubs, Integrins, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Integrin beta 3 outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Integrin beta 3 in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Integrin beta 3 means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Integrin beta 3 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Integrin beta 3 in simple terms?

Integrin beta-3 (β3) or CD61 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ITGB3 gene. CD61 is a cluster of differentiation found on thrombocytes.

Why does Integrin beta 3 matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Integrin beta 3?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Integrin beta 3.