Spectrin alpha chain, brain is a protein

Protein

Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...

 that in humans is encoded by the SPTAN1 gene

Gene

A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...

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The spectrin

Spectrin

Spectrin is a cytoskeletal protein that lines the intracellular side of the plasma membrane of many cell types in pentagonal or hexagonal arrangements, forming a scaffolding and playing an important role in maintenance of plasma membrane integrity and cytoskeletal structure...

s are a family of widely-distributed cytoskeletal

Cytoskeleton

The cytoskeleton is a cellular "scaffolding" or "skeleton" contained within a cell's cytoplasm and is made out of protein. The cytoskeleton is present in all cells; it was once thought to be unique to eukaryotes, but recent research has identified the prokaryotic cytoskeleton...

 proteins which are involved in actin

Actin

Actin is a globular, roughly 42-kDa moonlighting protein found in all eukaryotic cells where it may be present at concentrations of over 100 μM. It is also one of the most highly-conserved proteins, differing by no more than 20% in species as diverse as algae and humans...

 crosslinking. The protein enocoded by this gene is a spectrin alpha-chain which heterodimerizes with tissue-specific beta-chains. It is specifically expressed in nonerythrocytic cells. The encoded protein has been implicated in other cellular functions including DNA repair and cell cycle regulation. Mutations in this gene are the cause of early infantile epileptic encephalopathy-5. Alternate splicing results in multiple transcript variants.

Interactions

SPTAN1 has been shown to interact

Protein-protein interaction

Protein–protein interactions occur when two or more proteins bind together, often to carry out their biological function. Many of the most important molecular processes in the cell such as DNA replication are carried out by large molecular machines that are built from a large number of protein...

 with Vimentin

Vimentin

Vimentin is a type III intermediate filament protein that is expressed in mesenchymal cells. IF proteins are found in all metazoan cells as well as bacteria. IF, along with tubulin-based microtubules and actin-based microfilaments, comprise the cytoskeleton...

, SHANK1

SHANK1

SH3 and multiple ankyrin repeat domains protein 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SHANK1 gene.-Interactions:SHANK1 has been shown to interact with SPTAN1, BAIAP2, ARHGEF7, DNM2 and Somatostatin receptor 2.-Further reading:...

, Fanconi anemia, complementation group C

Fanconi anemia, complementation group C

-Interactions:Fanconi anemia, complementation group C has been shown to interact with STAT1, ZBTB32, GSTP1, Cdk1, SPTAN1, HSPA1A, FANCF, FANCA and FANCE.- External Links :* *...

, FANCA

FANCA

Fanconi anemia, complementation group A, also known as FANCA, is a protein which in humans is encoded by the FANCA gene.- Function :...

, Plectin

Plectin

Plectin is a giant protein found in nearly all mammalian cells which acts as a link between the three main components of the cytoskeleton: actin microfilaments, microtubules and intermediate filaments. In addition plectin links the cytoskeleton to junctions found in the plasma membrane that...

, GRIA2

GRIA2

Glutamate receptor 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GRIA2 gene.- Function :Glutamate receptors are the predominant excitatory neurotransmitter receptors in the mammalian brain and are activated in a variety of normal neurophysiologic processes...

 and Abl gene

Abl gene

V-abl Abelson murine leukemia viral oncogene homolog 1 also known as ABL1 is a protein that, in humans, is encoded by the ABL1 gene located on chromosome 9.- Function :...

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Further reading