Integrin alpha-3/beta-1 is a receptor for fibronectin, laminin, collagen, epiligrin, thrombospondin and CSPG4. Integrin alpha-3/beta-1 provides a docking site for FAP (seprase) at invadopodia plasma membranes in a collagen-dependent manner and hence may participate in the adhesion, formation of invadopodia and matrix degradation processes, promoting cell invasion. Alpha-3/beta-1 may mediate with LGALS3 the stimulation by CSPG4 of endothelial cells migration.
(Microbial infection) Integrin ITGA3:ITGB1 may act as a receptor for R.delemar CotH7 in alveolar epithelial cells, which may be an early step in pulmonary mucormycosis disease progression.
Subcellular locations: Cell membrane, Cell membrane, Cell projection, Invadopodium membrane, Cell projection, Filopodium membrane
Enriched preferentially at invadopodia, cell membrane protrusions that correspond to sites of cell invasion, in a collagen-dependent manner.
Isoform 1 is widely expressed. Isoform 2 is expressed in brain and heart. In brain, both isoforms are exclusively expressed on vascular smooth muscle cells, whereas in heart isoform 1 is strongly expressed on vascular smooth muscle cells, isoform 2 is detected only on endothelial vein cells.