Ankyrin

Ankyrins are a family of proteins that mediates the attachment of integral membrane proteins to the cytoskeleton.^[1]

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Ankyrin 1, was first discovered in the erythrocytes but also later found to be expressed in the brain and muscles. In erythrocytes, Ankyrin 1 links membrane receptor CD44 to inositol triphosphate and the cytoskeleton.^[2]

Ankyrin contains three functional domains: a conserved N-terminal ankyrin repeat domain (ARD) consisting of 22–24 tandem repeats of 33 amino acids, a spectrin binding domain and a variably sized C-terminal regulatory domain.

Ankyrin was discovered by Dr. G. Vann Bennett (M.D., PhD.) in 1976.

References

1. ^ Hryniewicz-Jankowska A, Czogalla A, Bok E, Sikorsk AF (2002). "Ankyrins, multifunctional proteins involved in many cellular pathways". Folia Histochem Cytobiol 40 (3): 239-49. PMID 12219834.
2. ^ Singleton PA, Bourguignon LY (2004). "CD44 interaction with ankyrin and IP3 receptor in lipid rafts promotes hyaluronan-mediated Ca2+ signaling leading to nitric oxide production and endothelial cell adhesion and proliferation". Exp Cell Res 295 (1): 102-18. PMID 15051494.