title: Increased content of a minor ankyrin in erythrocyte membranes of bipolar subjects.
abstract: This preliminary study reports on the increased content of a structurally important protein in erythrocyte membranes of bipolar patients treated with lithium carbonate compared with control subjects. The external portion of the erythrocyte membrane is a lipid bilayer into which various integral proteins are inserted; some of these serve as ion channels or energy-dependent transport systems. Another group of proteins, including those termed "ankyrins," link the bilayer to an underlying network of cytoskeletal proteins, and maintain both cell shape and the arrangement of integral proteins within the bilayer. Structural changes resulting from the observed excess of one of the ankyrins in membranes from bipolar subjects could alter several aspects of membrane function. Ankyrins also occur in neurons, where a corresponding increase would alter central nervous system function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Lithium Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute, NY 10032.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Meltzer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017487:Ankyrins; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D001797:Blood Protein Electrophoresis; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D017487:Ankyrins; D001798:Blood Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D008094:Lithium