Overview:

Catenin α is a novel actin-binding and -bundling protein. Catenin α is responsible for organizing and tethering actin filaments at the zones of E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell contact (1). Monomeric Catenin α can bind strongly to E-Cadherin-β-Catenin, whereas the dimer preferentially binds actin filaments. Different molecular conformations are associated with these different binding states, indicating that Catenin α is an allosteric protein. Catenin α directly regulates actin-filament organization by suppressing Arp2/3-mediated actin polymerization, likely by competing with the Arp2/3 complex for binding to actin filaments (2)

Gene Aliases:

CTNNA1, CAP102, FLJ36832

Genbank Number:

NM_001903

References:

1. Rimm, D L. etal: Alpha 1(E)-catenin is an actin-binding and -bundling protein mediating the attachment of F-actin to the membrane adhesion complex. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1995 Sep 12;92(19):8813-7.

2. Drees, F. et al: Alpha-catenin is a molecular switch that binds E-cadherin-beta-catenin and regulates actin-filament assembly. Cell. 2005 Dec 2;123(5):903-15.