Ankyrins are peripheral membrane proteins thought to interconnect integral proteins with the spectrin-based membrane skeleton.
Erythrocytic ankyrin, also known as ankyrin-R (ANK1) (MIM.182900) and brain ankyrin, also known as ankyrin-B or ankyrin-2 (ANK2) (MIM.106410) are distinct forms.
Ankyrin has been shown to associate with the voltage-dependent sodium channel in vitro and to colocalize with this molecule at nodes of Ranvier, axon initial segments (AIS), and the neuromuscular junction.
