Interaction of biological membranes with the cytoskeletal framework of living cells

The review is focused on the molecular structure and function of the proteins composing the actin-based cytoskeletal cortex, located at the cytoplasmic face of plasma membranes of eucaryotic cells, which stabilizes integral membrane proteins in separate domains of cell membranes. It includes a survey of the molecular properties of the proteins of the erythrocyte membrane skeleton such as spectrin, ankyrin, protein 4.1, and adducin. The properties of the immunological counterparts of erythroid cortical proteins found in nonerythroid tissues and cells are compared. The structural organization and function of the newly discovered class of calcium-binding proteins, nonerythroid peripheral membrane proteins, calpactins, are also described. Finally, the discussion of some experimental models illustrates that the membrane skeleton of living cells is actively involved in a wide variety of essential biological functions ranging from differentiation, to maintenance of cell polarity and cell shape, and regulation of exocytotic processes.