Sarcoglycan Alpha (SGCa)

Alpha-sarcoglycan is a protein encoded by the SGCA gene.The dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC) comprises a group of proteins that are critical to the stability of muscle fiber membranes and to the linking of the actin cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix. Components of the DGC include dystrophin, which is deficient in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD); syntrophins ; dystroglycans ; and sarcoglycans, such as adhalin, a 50-kD transmembrane protein .

Most strongly expressed in skeletal muscle. Also expressed in cardiac muscle and, at much lower levels, in lung. In the fetus, most abundant in cardiac muscle and, at lower levels, in lung. Also detected in liver and kidney. Not expressed in brain.