Integrin alpha-7/beta-1 is the primary laminin receptor on skeletal myoblasts and adult myofibers. During myogenic differentiation, it may induce changes in the shape and mobility of myoblasts, and facilitate their localization at laminin-rich sites of secondary fiber formation. Involved in the maintenance of the myofibers cytoarchitecture as well as for their anchorage, viability and functional integrity. Mice carrying a ITGA7 null allele are viable and fertile, but show progressive muscular dystrophy starting soon after birth, but with a distinct variability in different muscle types. Required to promote contractile phenotype acquisition in differentiated airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells. Acts as Schwann cell receptor for laminin-2. Acts as a receptor of COMP and mediates its effect on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) maturation (By similarity). Heterodimer of an alpha and a beta subunit. The alpha subunit is composed of a heavy and a light chain linked by a disulfide bond. Alpha-7 associates with beta-1. Interacts with COMP. Interacts (via C-terminus intracellular tail region) with CIB1; the interaction is stabilized/increased in a calcium- and magnesium-dependent manner (By similarity). Additional isoforms seem to exist. There is a combination of at least four alternatively spliced domains, two extracellular (X1 and X2) and two cytoplasmic (A and B). A third potential alternatively spliced cytoplasmic domain (C) doesn't appear to be expressed. So far detected are isoform alpha-7X1A, isoform alpha-7X1B and isoform alpha-7X2B. Experimental confirmation may be lacking for some isoforms. Isoforms containing segment X2 are found in adult heart, lung and skeletal muscle. Isoforms containing segment X1 are expressed in adult heart, lung and in proliferating skeletal myoblasts but not in adult skeletal muscle. Isoforms containing segment a are exclusively found in skeletal muscle. Isoforms containing segment B are widely expressed. In muscle fibers isoforms containing segment A and B are expressed at myotendinous and neuromuscular junctions; isoforms containing segment C are expressed at neuromuscular junctions and at extrasynaptic sites. Isoforms are developmentally regulated during the formation of skeletal muscle. Undifferentiated (replicating) myoblasts express isoforms containing segment B only, whereas differentiated myoblasts express isoforms containing segments A or B. ADP-ribosylated on at least two sites of the extracellular domain in skeletal myotubes (in vitro). No proteolytic cleavage to produce the 70 kDa form is seen due to the presence of a Gly instead of an arginine residue at position 647. Belongs to the integrin alpha chain family.