Alpha E-catenin (also known as catenin alpha-1, CTNNA1) belongs to the alpha catenin family, whose members are involved in cell adhesion. It is localised at the adherens junction of simple epithelia. CTNNA1 binds E-cadherin and beta-catenin in the cell-cell adhesion complex and regulates filamentous actin (F-actin) dynamics. Cytosolic alpha E-catenin can also regulate actin dynamics independently of cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion [].Alpha T-catenin (CTNNA3) belongs to the alpha catenin family. Alpha catenins are essential F-actin-binding proteins of the cadherin/catenin adhesion complex, involved in cell-cell adhesion. Alpha T-catenin has a restricted expression pattern, in contrast to the ubiquitously expressed alpha E-catenin. Alpha T-catenin is expressed in heart, brain and testes [, ]. It is a constitutively active actin-binding protein that can physically couple the cadherin/catenin complex to F-actin []. It is required for the coordination of hybrid junctions (area composita) in the heart [], and a truncated isoform may be involved in spermatogenesis []. Its loss could contribute to the development of autism [].
