CD49d is an integrin alpha subunit. It makes up half of the ñ4ò1 lymphocyte homing receptor.
The product of this gene belongs to the integrin alpha chain family of proteins. Integrins are heterodimeric integral membrane proteins composed of an alpha chain and a beta chain. This gene encodes an alpha 4 chain. Unlike other integrin alpha chains, alpha 4 neither contains an I-domain, nor undergoes disulfide-linked cleavage. Alpha 4 chain associates with either beta 1 chain or beta 7 chain.
CD49d has been shown to interact with LGALS8 and Paxillin.