title: The effect of cross-linking spectrin-actin complexes with band 4.1 on the state of polymerization of the actin.
abstract: The polymerization of actin in the presence of spectrin tetramers and band 4.1 isolated from the human erythrocyte has been measured using a fluorescence energy transfer technique. The results show that the cross-linking of spectrin-actin complexes by band 4.1 results in a limited depolymerization of actin filaments and a concomitant rise in the critical actin concentration. The phenomenon may explain in part the existence of actin in the erythrocyte cytoskeleton as short oligomers rather than as long filaments.
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009479:Neuropeptides; D013049:Spectrin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D001798:Blood Proteins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; C028841:erythrocyte membrane band 4.1 protein; C120557:erythrocyte membrane protein band 4.1-like 1; D013049:Spectrin