Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Use of Primary Cultured Hippocampal Neurons to Study the Assembly of Axon Initial Segments
Published on: February 12, 2021
Ankyrin protein networks in membrane formation and stabilization
Shane R Cunha1, Peter J Mohler
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA. shane-cunha@uiowa.edu
Abstract:
In eukaryotic cells, ankyrins serve as adaptor proteins that link membrane proteins to the underlying cytoskeleton. These adaptor proteins form protein complexes consisting of integral membrane proteins, signalling molecules and cytoskeletal components. With their modular architecture and ability to interact with many proteins, ankyrins organize and stabilize these protein networks, thereby establishing the infrastructure of membrane domains with specialized functions. To this end, ankyrin collaborates with a number of proteins including cytoskeletal proteins, cell adhesion molecules and large structural proteins. This review addresses the targeting and stabilization of protein networks related to ankyrin interactions with the cytoskeletal protein beta-spectrin, L1-cell adhesion molecules and the large myofibrillar protein obscurin. The significance of these interactions for differential targeting of cardiac proteins and neuronal membrane formation is also presented. Finally, this review concludes with a discussion about ankyrin dysfunction in human diseases such as haemolytic anaemia, cardiac arrhythmia and neurological disorders.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation
Another mechanism for membrane domain formation involves membrane proteins interacting with cytoskeletal...
Lipids as Anchors
The carboxy-terminal of most of the prenylated proteins, such as Ras proteins, contains the...
Tail-anchoring of Proteins in the ER Membrane
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
Some...
Mechanisms of Membrane-bending
Membrane bending can happen due to intrinsic changes in lipid composition or extrinsic association with different proteins. The proteins involved...
Cytoskeletal Accessory Proteins

