Isoforms Of Ankyrin Research Articles

Casein Kinase 1δ Stabilizes Mature Axons by Inhibiting Transcription Termination of Ankyrin.

After axon outgrowth and synapse formation, the nervous system transitions to a stable architecture. In C.elegans, this transition is marked by the appearance of casein kinase 1δ (CK1δ) in the nucleus. In CK1δ mutants, neurons continue to sprout growth cones into adulthood, leading to a highly ramified nervous system. Nervous system architecture in these mutants is completely restored by suppressor mutations in ten genes involved in transcription termination. CK1δ prevents termination by phosphorylating and inhibiting SSUP-72. SSUP-72 would normally remodel the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase in anticipation of termination. The antitermination activity of CK1δ establishes the mature state of a neuron by promoting the expression of the long isoform of a single gene, the cytoskeleton protein Ankyrin.

Casein Kinase 1δ Triggers Giant Ankyrin Expression.

During development, neurons form growth cones and neurites, but later reduce these activities to maintain a stable architecture. In this issue of Developmental Cell, LaBella etal. demonstrate that CK1δ plays a key role in winding down developmental processes exclusively by regulating poly(A) site choice to promote giant Ankyrin isoform expression.

Expression of a Fragment of Ankyrin 2 Disrupts the Structure of the Axon Initial Segment and Causes Axonal Degeneration in Drosophila.

Neurodegenerative stimuli are often associated with perturbation of the axon initial segment (AIS), but it remains unclear whether AIS disruption is causative for neurodegeneration or is a downstream step in disease progression. Here, we demonstrate that either of two separate, genetically parallel pathways that disrupt the AIS induce axonal degeneration and loss of neurons in the central brain of Drosophila. Expression of a portion of the C-terminal tail of the Ank2-L isoform of Ankyrin severely shortens the AIS in Drosophila mushroom body (MB) neurons, and this shortening occurs through a mechanism that is genetically separate from the previously described Cdk5α-dependent pathway of AIS regulation. Further, either manipulation triggers morphological degeneration of MB axons and is accompanied by neuron loss. Taken together, our results are consistent with the hypothesis that disruption of the AIS is causally related to degeneration of fly central brain neurons, and we suggest that similar mechanisms may contribute to neurodegeneration in mammals.

Tissue-specific regulation of alternative polyadenylation represses expression of a neuronal ankyrin isoform in C. elegans epidermal development.

Differential mRNA polyadenylation plays an important role in shaping the neuronal transcriptome. In C. elegans, several ankyrin isoforms are produced from the unc-44 locus through alternative polyadenylation. Here, we identify a key role for an intronic polyadenylation site (PAS) in temporal- and tissue-specific regulation of UNC-44/ankyrin isoforms. Removing an intronic PAS results in ectopic expression of the neuronal ankyrin isoform in non-neural tissues. This mis-expression underlies epidermal developmental defects in mutants of the conserved tumor suppressor death-associated protein kinase dapk-1 We have previously reported that the use of this intronic PAS depends on the nuclear polyadenylation factor SYDN-1, which inhibits the RNA polymerase II CTD phosphatase SSUP-72. Consistent with this, loss of sydn-1 blocks ectopic expression of neuronal ankyrin and suppresses epidermal morphology defects of dapk-1 These effects of sydn-1 are mediated by ssup-72 autonomously in the epidermis. We also show that a peptidyl-prolyl isomerase PINN-1 antagonizes SYDN-1 in the spatiotemporal control of neuronal ankyrin isoform. Moreover, the nuclear localization of PINN-1 is altered in dapk-1 mutants. Our data reveal that tissue and stage-specific expression of ankyrin isoforms relies on differential activity of positive and negative regulators of alternative polyadenylation.

Bilaterian Giant Ankyrins Have a Common Evolutionary Origin and Play a Conserved Role in Patterning the Axon Initial Segment.

In vertebrate neurons, the axon initial segment (AIS) is specialized for action potential initiation. It is organized by a giant 480 Kd variant of ankyrin G (AnkG) that serves as an anchor for ion channels and is required for a plasma membrane diffusion barrier that excludes somatodendritic proteins from the axon. An unusually long exon required to encode this 480Kd variant is thought to have been inserted only recently during vertebrate evolution, so the giant ankyrin-based AIS scaffold has been viewed as a vertebrate adaptation for fast, precise signaling. We re-examined AIS evolution through phylogenomic analysis of ankyrins and by testing the role of ankyrins in proximal axon organization in a model multipolar Drosophila neuron (ddaE). We find giant isoforms of ankyrin in all major bilaterian phyla, and present evidence in favor of a single common origin for giant ankyrins and the corresponding long exon in a bilaterian ancestor. This finding raises the question of whether giant ankyrin isoforms play a conserved role in AIS organization throughout the Bilateria. We examined this possibility by looking for conserved ankyrin-dependent AIS features in Drosophila ddaE neurons via live imaging. We found that ddaE neurons have an axonal diffusion barrier proximal to the cell body that requires a giant isoform of the neuronal ankyrin Ank2. Furthermore, the potassium channel shal concentrates in the proximal axon in an Ank2-dependent manner. Our results indicate that the giant ankyrin-based cytoskeleton of the AIS may have evolved prior to the radiation of extant bilaterian lineages, much earlier than previously thought.

Isoforms of Spectrin and Ankyrin Reflect the Functional Topography of the Mouse Kidney.

The kidney displays specialized regions devoted to filtration, selective reabsorption, and electrolyte and metabolite trafficking. The polarized membrane pumps, channels, and transporters responsible for these functions have been exhaustively studied. Less examined are the contributions of spectrin and its adapter ankyrin to this exquisite functional topography, despite their established contributions in other tissues to cellular organization. We have examined in the rodent kidney the expression and distribution of all spectrins and ankyrins by qPCR, Western blotting, immunofluorescent and immuno electron microscopy. Four of the seven spectrins (αΙΙ, βΙ, βΙΙ, and βΙΙΙ) are expressed in the kidney, as are two of the three ankyrins (G and B). The levels and distribution of these proteins vary widely over the nephron. αΙΙ/βΙΙ is the most abundant spectrin, found in glomerular endothelial cells; on the basolateral membrane and cytoplasmic vesicles in proximal tubule cells and in the thick ascending loop of Henle; and less so in the distal nephron. βΙΙΙ spectrin largely replaces βΙΙ spectrin in podocytes, Bowman’s capsule, and throughout the distal tubule and collecting ducts. βΙ spectrin is only marginally expressed; its low abundance hinders a reliable determination of its distribution. Ankyrin G is the most abundant ankyrin, found in capillary endothelial cells and all tubular segments. Ankyrin B populates Bowman’s capsule, podocytes, the ascending thick loop of Henle, and the distal convoluted tubule. Comparison to the distribution of renal protein 4.1 isoforms and various membrane proteins indicates a complex relationship between the spectrin scaffold, its adapters, and various membrane proteins. While some proteins (e.g. ankyrin B, βΙΙΙ spectrin, and aquaporin 2) tend to share a similar distribution, there is no simple mapping of different spectrins or ankyrins to most membrane proteins. The implications of this data are discussed.

Obscurin is required for ankyrinB-dependent dystrophin localization and sarcolemma integrity

Obscurin is a large myofibrillar protein that contains several interacting modules, one of which mediates binding to muscle-specific ankyrins. Interaction between obscurin and the muscle-specific ankyrin sAnk1.5 regulates the organization of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in striated muscles. Additional muscle-specific ankyrin isoforms, ankB and ankG, are localized at the subsarcolemma level, at which they contribute to the organization of dystrophin and β-dystroglycan at costameres. In this paper, we report that in mice deficient for obscurin, ankB was displaced from its localization at the M band, whereas localization of ankG at the Z disk was not affected. In obscurin KO mice, localization at costameres of dystrophin, but not of β-dystroglycan, was altered, and the subsarcolemma microtubule cytoskeleton was disrupted. In addition, these mutant mice displayed marked sarcolemmal fragility and reduced muscle exercise tolerance. Altogether, the results support a model in which obscurin, by targeting ankB at the M band, contributes to the organization of subsarcolemma microtubules, localization of dystrophin at costameres, and maintenance of sarcolemmal integrity.

Obscurin-Dependent Localization of Ankyrin B is required for the Organization of Sub-Sarcolemma Microtubules, Localization of Dystrophin, and Sarcolemmal Integrity in Skeletal Muscle

Obscurin is a large myofibrillar protein that contains several interacting modules, one of which mediates direct binding to muscle-specific ankyrins. Interaction between obscurin and the muscle-specific ankyrin sAnk1.5 has been found to regulate the organization of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in striated muscles. The organization of dystrophin and β-dystroglycan at costameres is mediated by additional muscle-specific ankyrin isoforms, namely ankB and ankG, localized at the sub-sarcolemma level. In particular, ankB is responsible for the assembly of sub-sarcolemma microtubules required for the correct delivery of dystrophin and β-dystroglycan at costameres. On this basis, we investigated whether obscurin might be involved in the sub-sarcolemma localization of ankB and ankG, and eventually in the assembly of dystrophin and β-dystroglycan at costameres in skeletal muscle fibers. We found that in mice deficient for obscurin, ankB was displaced from its localization at the M-band, while localization of ankG at Z-disk was not affected. In obscurin KO mice, the sub-sarcolemma microtubule cytoskeleton was disrupted and localization at costameres of dystrophin, but not of β-dystroglycan, was markedly reduced. In addition, these mutant mice displayed sarcolemmal fragility and lower forelimbs muscle strength. Altogether, these results support a model where obscurin, by targeting ankB at the M-band, contributes to the organization of sub-sarcolemma microtubules, localization of dystrophin at costameres and to maintenance of sarcolemmal integrity. Accordingly, obscurin appears to represent a multifunctional anchoring protein that on one hand establishes interactions with sarcomeric proteins and on the other hand enables complex formation with extra-sarcomeric proteins, like the muscle-specific ankyrin isoforms, that help to connect the sarcomeres with the SR and with the sub-sarcolemmal cytoskeleton.

Obscurin and KCTD6 regulate cullin-dependent small ankyrin-1 (sAnk1.5) protein turnover

Protein turnover through cullin-3 is tightly regulated by posttranslational modifications, the COP9 signalosome, and BTB/POZ-domain proteins that link cullin-3 to specific substrates for ubiquitylation. In this paper, we report how potassium channel tetramerization domain containing 6 (KCTD6) represents a novel substrate adaptor for cullin-3, effectively regulating protein levels of the muscle small ankyrin-1 isoform 5 (sAnk1.5). Binding of sAnk1.5 to KCTD6, and its subsequent turnover is regulated through posttranslational modification by nedd8, ubiquitin, and acetylation of C-terminal lysine residues. The presence of the sAnk1.5 binding partner obscurin, and mutation of lysine residues increased sAnk1.5 protein levels, as did knockdown of KCTD6 in cardiomyocytes. Obscurin knockout muscle displayed reduced sAnk1.5 levels and mislocalization of the sAnk1.5/KCTD6 complex. Scaffolding functions of obscurin may therefore prevent activation of the cullin-mediated protein degradation machinery and ubiquitylation of sAnk1.5 through sequestration of sAnk1.5/KCTD6 at the sarcomeric M-band, away from the Z-disk-associated cullin-3. The interaction of KCTD6 with ankyrin-1 may have implications beyond muscle for hereditary spherocytosis, as KCTD6 is also present in erythrocytes, and erythrocyte ankyrin isoforms contain its mapped minimal binding site.

Sequencing of the ANKYRIN 3 gene (ANK3) encoding ankyrin G in bipolar disorder reveals a non‐conservative amino acid change in a short isoform of ankyrin G

Significant association between polymorphisms at the ANK3 gene with bipolar disorder has previously been reported and confirmed in several samples. Here we report on association between ANK3 and bipolar disorder in a new sample of 593 patients and 642 controls (UCL2) as well as the results of sequencing of the exons and flanking regions of ANK3 from bipolar patients. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with bipolar disorder in our original GWA study (UCL1) were genotyped and tested for association in the new sample. Novel SNPs found by sequencing were genotyped in both samples to test for association with bipolar disorder. None of the SNPs previously associated with bipolar disorder were associated in the UCL2 sample. One of the four SNPs associated in the UCL1 sample, rs1938526, was still significantly associated with bipolar disorder when the UCL1 and UCL2 samples were combined (P = 0.0095). The results demonstrate the impact of heterogeneity on replication of allelic associations even within well-defined ancestral populations. DNA sequencing revealed a novel low frequency (0.007) ANK3 SNP (ss469104599) which causes a non-conservative amino acid change at position 794 in the shorter isoforms of the ankyrin G protein. Protein-function analysis software predicted the amino acid change to be "probably damaging" and it could therefore be detrimental to the function of this isoform. Given that there was only a modest increase in the allele frequency of ss469104599 in cases compared to controls further association studies are needed in additional samples to establish a possible etiological role for this amino acid change.

Transgene Rescue Identifies an Essential Function forDrosophilaβ Spectrin in the Nervous System and a Selective Requirement for Ankyrin-2–binding Activity

The protein spectrin is ubiquitous in animal cells and is believed to play important roles in cell shape and membrane stability, cell polarity, and endomembrane traffic. Experiments here were undertaken to identify sites of essential beta spectrin function in Drosophila and to determine whether spectrin and ankyrin function are strictly linked to one another. The Gal4-UAS system was used to drive tissue-specific overexpression of a beta spectrin transgene or to knock down beta spectrin expression with dsRNA. The results show that 1) overexpression of beta spectrin in most of the cell types studied was lethal; 2) knockdown of beta spectrin in most tissues had no detectable effect on growth or viability of the organism; and 3) nervous system-specific expression of a UAS-beta spectrin transgene was sufficient to overcome the lethality of a loss-of-function beta spectrin mutation. Thus beta spectrin expression in other cells was not required for development of fertile adult males, although females lacking nonneuronal spectrin were sterile. Previous data indicated that binding of the DAnk1 isoform of ankyrin to spectrin was partially dispensable for viability. Domain swap experiments here uncovered a different requirement for neuronal DAnk2 binding to spectrin and establish that DAnk2-binding is critical for beta spectrin function in vivo.

Na,K-ATPase in skeletal muscle: two populations of β-spectrin control localization in the sarcolemma but not partitioning between the sarcolemma and the transverse tubules

We used immunological approaches to study the factors controlling the distribution of the Na,K-ATPase in fast twitch skeletal muscle of the rat. Both alpha subunits of the Na,K-ATPase colocalize with beta-spectrin and ankyrin 3 in costameres, structures at the sarcolemma that lie over Z and M-lines and in longitudinal strands. In immunoprecipitates, the alpha1 and alpha2 subunits of the Na,K-ATPase as well as ankyrin 3 associate with beta-spectrin/alpha- fodrin heteromers and with a pool of beta-spectrin at the sarcolemma that does not contain alpha-fodrin. Myofibers of mutant mice lacking beta-spectrin (ja/ja) have a more uniform distribution of both the alpha1 and alpha2 subunits of the Na,K-ATPase in the sarcolemma, supporting the idea that the rectilinear sarcomeric pattern assumed by the Na,K-ATPase in wild-type muscle requires beta-spectrin. The Na,K-ATPase and beta-spectrin are distributed normally in muscle fibers of the nb/nb mouse, which lacks ankyrin 1, suggesting that this isoform of ankyrin is not necessary to link the Na,K-ATPase to the spectrin-based membrane skeleton. In immunofluorescence and subcellular fractionation experiments, the alpha2 but not the alpha1 subunit of the Na,K-ATPase is present in transverse (t-) tubules. The alpha1 subunit of the pump is not detected in increased amounts in the t-tubules of muscle from the ja/ja mouse, however. Our results suggest that the spectrin-based membrane skeleton, including ankyrin 3, concentrates both isoforms of the Na,K-ATPase in costameres, but that it does not play a significant role in restricting the entry of the alpha1 subunit into the t-tubules.

Molecular epitopes of the ankyrin-spectrin interaction.

Isoforms of ankyrin and its binding partner spectrin are responsible for a number of interactions in a variety of human cells. Conflicting evidence, however, had identified two different, non-overlapping human erythroid ankyrin subdomains, Zu5 and 272, as the minimum binding region for beta-spectrin. Complementary studies on the ankyrin-binding domain of spectrin have been somewhat more conclusive yet have not presented binding in terms of well-phased, integral numbers of spectrin repeats. Thus, the objective of this study was to clearly define and characterize the minimal ankyrin-spectrin binding epitopes. Circular dichroism (CD) wavelength spectra of the aforementioned ankyrin subdomains show that these fragments are 30-60% unstructured. In contrast, human erythroid beta-spectrin repeats 13, 14, 15, and 16 (prepared in all combinations of two adjacent repeats) demonstrated proper folding and stability as determined by CD and tryptophan wavelength and heat denaturation scans. Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) gel shifts as well as affinity pull-down assays implicated Zu5 and beta-spectrin repeats 14-15 as the minimum binding epitopes. These results were confirmed by analytical ultracentrifugation to sedimentation equilibrium by which a 1:1 complex was obtained if and only if Zu5 was mixed with beta-spectrin constructs containing repeats 14 and 15 in tandem. Surface plasmon resonance yielded a K D of 15.2 nM for binding of beta-spectrin fragments to the ankyrin subdomain Zu5, accounting for all of the binding observed between the intact molecules. Collectively, these results show the 14th and 15th beta-spectrin repeats comprise the minimal, phased region of beta-spectrin, which binds ankyrin at the Zu5 subdomain with high affinity.

A Presynaptic Giant Ankyrin Stabilizes the NMJ through Regulation of Presynaptic Microtubules and Transsynaptic Cell Adhesion

In a forward genetic screen for mutations that destabilize the neuromuscular junction, we identified a novel long isoform of Drosophila ankyrin2 (ank2-L). We demonstrate that loss of presynaptic Ank2-L not only causes synapse disassembly and retraction but also disrupts neuronal excitability and NMJ morphology. We provide genetic evidence that ank2-L is necessary to generate the membrane constrictions that normally separate individual synaptic boutons and is necessary to achieve the normal spacing of subsynaptic protein domains, including the normal organization of synaptic cell adhesion molecules. Mechanistically, synapse organization is correlated with a lattice-like organization of Ank2-L, visualized using extended high-resolution structured-illumination microscopy. The stabilizing functions of Ank2-L can be mapped to the extended C-terminal domain that we demonstrate can directly bind and organize synaptic microtubules. We propose that a presynaptic Ank2-L lattice links synaptic membrane proteins and spectrin to the underlying microtubule cytoskeleton to organize and stabilize the presynaptic terminal.

Drosophila Ankyrin 2 Is Required for Synaptic Stability

Synaptic connections are stabilized through transsynaptic adhesion complexes that are anchored in the underlying cytoskeleton. The Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJs) serves as a model system to unravel genes required for the structural remodeling of synapses. In a mutagenesis screen for regulators of synaptic stability, we recovered mutations in Drosophila ankyrin 2 (ank2) affecting two giant Ank2 isoforms that are specifically expressed in the nervous system and associate with the presynaptic membrane cytoskeleton. ank2 mutant larvae show severe deficits in the stability of NMJs, resulting in a reduction in overall terminal size, withdrawal of synaptic boutons, and disassembly of presynaptic active zones. In addition, lack of Ank2 leads to disintegration of the synaptic microtubule cytoskeleton. Microtubules and microtubule-associated proteins fail to extend into distant boutons. Interestingly, Ank2 functions downstream of spectrin in the anchorage of synaptic microtubules, providing the cytoskeletal scaffold that is essential for synaptic stability.

Multiple Erythroid Ankyrin Isoforms in the Mouse Cerebellum: Differential Localization in Purkinje Cells.

The erythroid ankyrin gene (Ank1) produces a large and varied number of isoforms due to alternative splicing of the mRNA. In addition to expression in erythroid tissues, some of these Ank1 proteins are highly expressed in the Purkinje cells (PKC) of the mouse cerebellum. Mice deficient in Ank1 as a result of a mutation in the Ank1 gene (normoblastosis, nb) show a progressive loss of PKCs with an attendant ataxia. We have generated a panel of Ank1 antibodies to aid in sorting out the expression pattern and function of Ank1 proteins in the cerebellum. Two of these antibodies are specific to the alternatively spliced A and B COOH-terminal segments of Ank1. Immunohistochemical (IHC) experiments using these antibodies show strikingly different patterns of localization. Anti-C-termA (α-A) stains the PKC cell body and dendrites while anti-C-termB (α-B) is restricted to the PKC membrane. Both antibodies stain structures in the granule cell layer (GCL) including the granule cell membrane (α-B) and structures known as glomeruli where granule cell dendrites synapse with mossy fiber axons (α-A and α-B). Mossy fibers are a major afferent system that inputs to the cerebellum. α-A, α-B, antibodies to the α-1 subunit of Na+/K+ATPase (NaK-α1) and anti-Synapsin 1, a specific marker for synaptic vesicles, all co-localize in the glomeruli, suggesting a possible functional link. PKC membrane staining with α-B is absent in nb/nb cerebellum whereas PKC staining with α-A is unaffected. GCL staining with both antibodies is reduced in the mutant and this deficit may be important to PKC survival since granule cell axons are a major input system to PKC dendrites. Immunoblots stained with α-A and α-B are consistent with the IHC findings. In addition to the typical large isoforms (∼210kD) that are deficient in the nb mutant, immunoblots of cerebellar lysates reveal a number of small Ank1 related proteins ranging in size from 17 to 50 kD. The α-A and α-B banding patterns are unaffected by the nb mutation suggesting that they may be produced by splicing out the exon containing the nb mutation (E36) or by using an alternative promoter in the 3′ end of the gene as was found for the small Ank1 isoforms in skeletal muscle. Additional IHC findings using GFP-tagged PKC show a PKC axonopathy in nb/nb cerebellum. PKC axons exhibit multiple swellings that accumulate with age raising the possibility that axonal transport is abnormal in the nb PKCs. In summary 1) immunoblots reveal multiple previously undescribed small Ank1 isoforms in cerebellum, 2) two of the alternate Ank1 COOH-termini show very different localization in PKC suggesting distinct functions for the Ank1 proteins carrying them, 3) in the GCL, antibodies to the two COOH-termini co-localize with antibodies to the Na+/K+ATPase α-1 subunit in synaptic densities, 4) deficiencies of Ank1 in the GCL of nb/nb mice may influence PKC survival and 5) axonal transport may be affected in nb/nb PKC. These findings indicate that Ank1 proteins play a more varied role in the cerebellum than previously suspected and suggest new directions for the study of Ank1 function.

Mapping the Binding Site on Small Ankyrin 1 for Obscurin

Small ankyrin 1 (sAnk1), an integral protein of the sarcoplasmic reticulum encoded by the ANK1 gene, binds with nanomolar affinity to the C terminus of obscurin, a giant protein surrounding the contractile apparatus in striated muscle. We used site-directed mutagenesis to characterize the binding site on sAnk1, specifically addressing the role of two putative amphipathic, positively charged helices. We measured binding qualitatively by blot overlay assays and quantitatively by surface plasmon resonance and showed that both positively charged sequences are required for activity. We showed further that substitution of a lysine or arginine with an alanine or glutamate located at the same position along either of the two putative helices has similar inhibitory or stimulatory effects on binding and that the effects of a particular mutation depended on the position of the mutated amino acid in each helix. We modeled the structure of the binding region of sAnk1 by homology with ankyrin repeats of human Notch1, which have a similar pattern of charged and hydrophobic residues. Our modeling suggested that each of the two positively charged sequences forms pairs of amphipathic, anti-parallel alpha-helices flanked by beta-hairpin-like turns. Most of the residues in homologous positions along each helical unit have similar, though not identical, orientations. CD spectroscopy confirmed the alpha-helical content of sAnk1, approximately 33%, predicted by the model. Thus, structural and mutational studies of the binding region on sAnk1 for obscurin suggest that it consists of two ankyrin repeats with very similar structures.

Ankyrin-G and β2-Spectrin Collaborate in Biogenesis of Lateral Membrane of Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells

Ankyrins are a family of adapter proteins required for localization of membrane proteins to diverse specialized membrane domains including axon initial segments, specialized sites at the transverse tubule/sarcoplasmic reticulum in cardiomyocytes, and lateral membrane domains of epithelial cells. Little is currently known regarding the molecular basis for specific roles of different ankyrin isoforms. In this study, we systematically generated alanine mutants of clusters of charged residues in the spectrin-binding domains of both ankyrin-B and -G. The corresponding mutants were evaluated for activity in either restoration of abnormal localization of the inositol trisphosphate receptor in the sarcoplasmic reticulum in mutant mouse cardiomyocytes deficient in ankyrin-B or in prevention of loss of lateral membrane in human bronchial epithelial cells depleted of ankyrin-G by small interfering RNA. Interestingly, ankyrin-B and -G share two homologous sites that result in loss of function in both systems, suggesting that common molecular interactions underlie diverse roles of these isoforms. Ankyrins G and B also exhibit differences; mutations affecting spectrin binding had no effect on ankyrin-B function but did abolish activity of ankyrin-G in restoring lateral membrane biogenesis. Depletion of beta(2)-spectrin by small interfering RNA phenocopied depletion of ankyrin-G and resulted in a failure to form new lateral membrane in interphase and mitotic cells. These results demonstrate that ankyrin-G and beta(2)-spectrin are functional partners in biogenesis of the lateral membrane of epithelial cells.

Molecular interactions with obscurin are involved in the localization of muscle-specific small ankyrin1 isoforms to subcompartments of the sarcoplasmic reticulum

We report here on experiments aimed to characterise the molecular basis of the interactions between muscle-specific ankyrin1 isoforms localized on the sarcoplasmic reticulum and obscurin a protein associated with the contractile apparatus. A novel small muscle-specific ankyrin isoform, ank1.9 was identified that, similarly to the known ank1.5 isoform, was able to bind to obscurin in yeast two-hybrid assay and in pull-down experiments. Two distinct binding sites in the C-terminus of obscurin were found to mediate binding with ank1.5 and ank1.9. Interactions between ank1.5 and ank1.9 with recombinant proteins containing one or two of the binding sites of obscurin were confirmed by expressing recombinant proteins in NIH3T3 cells. In cultured myotubes, ank1.5 and ank1.9 colocalized with endogenous obscurin at the M-band region. In contrast with evidence of efficient binding between small ank1 isoforms and obscurin, in vitro interaction studies and transfection experiments in myotubes indicated that small ank1 isoforms do not efficiently interact with titin. Altogether, these results support a role of obscurin in mediating the subcellular localization of small ank1 isoforms in striated muscle cells. Given that the localization of small muscle-specific ank1 isoforms mirrors that of obscurin, we propose that obscurin and small ank1 isoforms may form stable interactions that may be relevant to connect the sarcoplasmic reticulum and the contractile apparatus in skeletal muscle cells.

Ankyrin-G Regulates Inactivation Gating of the Neuronal Sodium Channel, Nav1.6

Ankyrin-G, a modular protein, plays a critical role in clustering voltage-gated sodium channels (Nav channels) in nodes of Ranvier and initial segments of mammalian neurons. However, direct effects of ankyrin-G on electrophysiological properties of Nav channels remain elusive. In this study, we explored whether ankyrin-G has a role in modifying gating properties of the neuronal Nav1.6 channel that is predominantly localized at nodes of Ranvier and initial segments. TsA201 cells transfected with the human Nav1.6 cDNA alone exhibited significant persistent sodium current (Ina-p). On the other hand, Ina-p was barely detected on co-expression with ankyrin-G. Ankyrin-B, another ankyrin, did not show such an effect. Expression of chimeras between the two isoforms of ankyrin suggests that the membrane-binding domain of ankyrin-G is critical for reducing the Ina-p of Nav1.6. These results suggest that ankyrin-G regulates neuronal excitability not only through clustering Nav channels but also by directly modifying their channel gating.