Anti-Alpha II Spectrin Antibody

The spectrin family of cytoskeletal proteins is comprised of 2 alpha genes (α1 and α2) and five beta genes (β1-β5). Spectrins have been shown to function as scaffolding proteins in mechanical support of the plasma membrane as well as bind other membrane proteins and lipids (Bennett and Baines 2001). Defects in spectrin genes have been linked to some forms of hereditary spherocytosis, a type of auto-hemolytic anemia which is characterized by spherical red blood cells that are more prone to lysis (Eber and Lux 2004).