spectrin

Pronunciation: spek′trin

Definition: A filamentous contractile protein that together with actin and other cytoskeleton proteins forms a network that gives the red blood cell membrane its shape and flexibility; a defect or deficiency of spectrin is associated with hereditary spherocytosis and hereditary elliptocytosis; the principal component of the membrane skeleton of red blood cells. It comprises two units, an alpha unit of MW 280,700 [MIM*182860] and a beta unit of MW 246,040 [MIM*182870].

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