title: Functional diversity among spectrin isoforms.
abstract: The purpose of this review on spectrin is to examine the functional properties of this ubiquitous family of membrane skeletal proteins. Major topics include spectrin-membrane linkages, spectrin-filament linkages, the subcellular localization of spectrins in various cell types and a discussion of major functional differences between erythroid and nonerythroid spectrins. This includes a summary of studies from our own laboratories on the functional and structural comparison of avian spectrin isoforms which are comprised of a common alpha subunit and a tissue-specific beta subunit. Consequently, the observed differences among these spectrins can be assigned to differences in the properties of the beta subunits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511-8112.
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Fishkind
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Mooseker
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Morrow
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D011487:Protein Conformation; D013049:Spectrin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D013049:Spectrin