Integrin alpha-6/beta-1 (ITGA6:ITGB1) is a receptor for laminin on platelets (PubMed:8081870). Integrin alpha-6/beta-1 (ITGA6:ITGB1) is present in oocytes and is involved in sperm-egg fusion (PubMed:10634791). Integrin alpha-6/beta-4 (ITGA6:ITGB4) is a receptor for laminin in epithelial cells and it plays a critical structural role in the hemidesmosome (PubMed:8673141). ITGA6:ITGB4 binds to NRG1 (via EGF domain) and this binding is essential for NRG1-ERBB signaling (By similarity). ITGA6:ITGB4 binds to IGF1 and this binding is essential for IGF1 signaling (By similarity). ITGA6:ITGB4 binds to IGF2 and this binding is essential for IGF2 signaling (By similarity). Heterodimer of an alpha and a beta subunit (PubMed:8081870). The alpha subunit is composed of a heavy and a light chain linked by a disulfide bond (PubMed:8081870). Alpha-6 associates with either beta-1 (ITGB1) or beta-4 (ITGB4) to form ITGA6:ITGB1 and ITGA6:ITGB4, respectively (PubMed:8081870, PubMed:10634791). ITGA6:ITGB1 is found in a complex with CD9; interaction takes place in oocytes and is involved in sperm-egg fusion (PubMed:10634791). ITGA6:ITGB4 is found in a ternary complex with NRG1 and ERBB3 (By similarity). ITGA6:ITGB4 is found in a ternary complex with IGF1 and IGF1R (By similarity). ITGA6:ITGB4 interacts with IGF2 (By similarity). Interacts with ADAM9 (PubMed:10825303). Interacts with RAB21 (By similarity). Interacts with MDK. ITGA6:ITGB1 interacts with MDK; this interaction mediates MDK-induced neurite outgrowth (By similarity). Expressed at low levels in normal skin tissue with elevated levels in skin tumors. Isoforms containing segment A, but not segment B, are the major targets for PMA-induced phosphorylation. Phosphorylation occurs on 'Ser-1064' of isoform alpha-6X1A. Phosphorylation is not required for the induction of integrin alpha-6A/beta-1 high affinity but may reduce the affinity for ligand (By similarity). Undergoes PLAU-mediated cleavage at residues Arg-595-596-Arg in a time-dependent manner to produce processed integrin alpha-6 (alpha6p). Palmitoylation by DHHC3 enhances stability and cell surface expression. Mice expressing a null mutation of the alpha-6 subunit gene die soon after birth and develop severe blistering (PubMed:8673141). The blisters are due to separation of the basal epithelial cells from a normally formed basement membrane (PubMed:8673141). Belongs to the integrin alpha chain family.