integrin, alpha 2b (platelet glycoprotein IIb of IIb/IIIa complex, antigen CD41)|ITGA2B encodes integrin alpha chain 2b. Integrins are heterodimeric integral membrane proteins composed of an alpha chain and a beta chain. Alpha chain 2b undergoes post-translational cleavage to yield disulfide-linked light and heavy chains that join with beta 3 to form a fibronectin receptor expressed in platelets that plays a crucial role in coagulation. Mutations that interfere with this role result in thrombasthenia. In addition to adhesion, integrins are known to participate in cell-surface mediated signalling. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008] (NCBI Entrez Gene Database, 3674)
