Gene:
integrin, alpha M (complement component receptor 3, alpha; also known as CD11b (p170), macrophage antigen alpha polypeptide)
Gene ID:
194487
Symbol:
ITGAM
Species:
1000
Description:
ITGAM encodes the integrin alpha M chain. Note that this gene was cloned by different groups which used different naming conventions. Integrins are heterodimeric integral membrane proteins composed of an alpha chain and a beta chain. This I-domain containing alpha integrin combines with the beta 2 chain (ITGB2) to form a leukocyte-specific integrin referred to as macrophage receptor 1 ('Mac-1'), or inactivated-C3b (iC3b) receptor 3 ('CR3'). The alpha M beta 2 integrin is important in the adherence of neutrophils and monocytes to stimulated endothelium, and also in the phagocytosis of complement coated particles. Some integrin alpha M proteins contain an inserted amino acid (Q, between AA positions 499 and 500) resulting from a 3bp shift in a splice acceptor that inserts the codon CAG; receptors with or without the extra amino acid are functionally indistinguishable