Catenin Alpha 2 (CTNNa2)

Cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesions involve transmembrane glycoproteins such as cell adhesion molecules and integrins, which are thought to function via interactions of their cytoplasmic domains with proteins associated with the cytoskeleton. Vinculin and talin are examples.Despite the homology, the protein was probably not the actual human homolog of alpha-catenin because of atypical mouse/human mutation rates computed from the 2 sequences and because of the finding of a partial cDNA sequence 89% identical to CAP102 within a human expressed sequence tag (EST) library.

CAPR also differed from CAP102 by the presence of a 48-residue insert, suggesting the situation previously described for the metavinculin/vinculin system.