Definitions for spectrin
spec·trin

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. spectrinnoun

   A contractile protein found on the surface of the membranes of blood cells.

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Spectrin

   Spectrin is a cytoskeletal protein that lines the intracellular side of the plasma membrane in eukaryotic cells. The protein is named spectrin since it was first isolated as a major protein component of human red blood cells which had been treated with mild detergents; the detergents lyzed the cells so the hemoglobin and other cytoplasmic components were washed out. In the light microscope the basic shape of the red blood cell could still be seen as the spectrin containing submembranous cytoskeleton preserved the shape of the cell in outline. This became known as a red blood cell "ghost", and so the major protein of the ghost was named spectrin. Spectrin forms pentagonal or hexagonal arrangements, forming a scaffolding and playing an important role in maintenance of plasma membrane integrity and cytoskeletal structure. The hexagonal arrangements are formed by tetramers of spectrin subunits associating with short actin filaments at either end of the tetramer. These short actin filaments act as junctional complexes allowing the formation of the hexagonal mesh. In certain types of brain injury such as diffuse axonal injury, spectrin is irreversibly cleaved by the proteolytic enzyme calpain, destroying the cytosketelon. Spectrin cleavage causes the membrane to form blebs and ultimately to be degraded, usually leading to the death of the cell. Spectrin subunits may also be cleaved by caspase family enzymes, and calpain and caspase produce different spectrin breakdown products which can be detected by western blotting with appropriate antibodies. Calpain cleavage may indicate activation of necrosis, while caspase cleavage may indicate apoptosis.

U.S. National Library of MedicineRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Spectrin

   A high molecular weight (220-250 kDa) water-soluble protein which can be extracted from erythrocyte ghosts in low ionic strength buffers. The protein contains no lipids or carbohydrates, is the predominant species of peripheral erythrocyte membrane proteins, and exists as a fibrous coating on the inner, cytoplasmic surface of the membrane.

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. spectrin

   A form of protein.

   Spectrin has a role in the human body in maintaining plasma membrance.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on December 26, 2020  

How to pronounce spectrin?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say spectrin in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of spectrin in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of spectrin in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Spectrin
2. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=spectrin