Background:
CD49e is the integrin alpha 5 chain. Integrins are heterodimeric integral membrane proteins composed of an alpha chain and a beta chain. Alpha chain 5 undergoes post translational cleavage in the extracellular domain to yield disulfide linked light and heavy chains that join with beta 1 to form a fibronectin receptor that is known variously: in lymphocytes as very late (activation) antigen 5 (VLA5); in platelets as glycoprotein IcIIa; and in fibroblasts as extracellular matrix receptor 6 (ECMVI). In addition to adhesion, integrins are known to participate in cell surface mediated signalling.