Human Catenin Alpha 1, CTNNA1 ELI

Associates with the cytoplasmic domain of a variety of cadherins.

The association of catenins to cadherins produces a complex which is linked to the actin filament network, and which seems to be of primary importance for cadherins cell-adhesion properties.

Can associate with both E- and N-cadherins.

Originally believed to be a stable component of E-cadherin/catenin adhesion complexes and to mediate the linkage of cadherins to the actin cytoskeleton at adherens junctions.

In contrast, cortical actin was found to be much more dynamic than E-cadherin/catenin complexes and CTNNA1 was shown not to bind to F-actin when assembled in the complex suggesting a different linkage between actin and adherens junctions components.

The homodimeric form may regulate actin filament assembly and inhibit actin branching by competing with the Arp2/3 complex for binding to actin filaments.

Involved in the regulation of WWTR1/TAZ, YAP1 and TGFB1-dependent SMAD2 and SMAD3 nuclear accumulation (By similarity).

May play a crucial role in cell differentiation.