Immunoglobulin Associated Alpha (Iga)

The B lymphocyte antigen receptor is a multimeric complex that includes the antigen-specific component, surface immunoglobulin (Ig). Surface Ig non-covalently associates with two other proteins, Ig-alpha and Ig-beta, which are necessary for expression and function of the B-cell antigen receptor. This gene encodes the Ig-alpha protein of the B-cell antigen component. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been described.

The mouse mb1 gene was originally identified on the basis of its restricted expression in lymphocytes of B lineage. Predicted structural homology with the gamma chain of the CD3 complex of T cells led to the suggestion that the MB1 protein may associate with surface immunoglobulin on B cells and be involved in signal transduction.