Some properties of spectrin-like proteins from Pisum sativum

Proteins cross-reacting with antibodies directed against alpha- and beta-spectrin were recently detected in plant cells. In this report we have studied the ability of these proteins to interact with other components of membrane skeleton such as ankyrin, f-actin and calmodulin. It was found that the polypeptide of high molecular weight reacting with anti-alpha-spectrin antibody binds calmodulin in Ca(2+)-dependent manner. Protein complexes containing polypeptides cross-reacting with anti-spectrin antibodies interact with muscle f-actin (in co-sedimentation assay) and with erythrocyte ankyrin (ELISA-type assay). These data further substantiate a possibility of occurrence of spectrin-based membrane skeleton in higher plant cells.