title: How to build a molecular shock absorber.
abstract: Newly determined structures of the alpha-helical repeats that make up the key 'rod' domains of spectrin and alpha-actinin - which serve as spacers between their actin-binding domains - have provided important insights into how these proteins function as molecular shock absorbers in cells.
authors.affiliation: Verna & Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. amcgough@bcm.tmc.edu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McGough
mesh_terms: D000185:Actinin / Q000737:chemistry; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D013049:Spectrin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000185:Actinin; D013049:Spectrin