Ankyrins are multifunctional adaptors that link specific proteins to the membrane-associated, spectrin- actin cytoskeleton. This repeat-domain is a 'membrane-binding' domain of up to 24 repeated units, and it mediates most of the protein's binding activities. Repeats 13-24 are especially active, with known sites of interaction for the Na/K ATPase, Cl/HCO(3) anion exchanger, voltage-gated sodium channel, clathrin heavy chain and L1 family cell adhesion molecules. The ANK repeats are found to form a contiguous spiral stack such that ion transporters like the anion exchanger associate in a large central cavity formed by the ANK repeat spiral, while clathrin and cell adhesion molecules associate with specific regions outside this cavity [2][3].

1: Hereditary spherocytosis associated with deletion of human erythrocyte ankyrin gene on chromosome 8. Lux SE, John KM, Bennett V; Nature 1990;345:736-739. PMID:2141669

2: Crystal structure of a 12 ANK repeat stack from human ankyrinR. Michaely P, Tomchick DR, Machius M, Anderson RG; EMBO J. 2002;21:6387-6396. PMID:12456646

3: The ANK repeat: a ubiquitous motif involved in macromolecular recognition. Michaely P, Bennett V; Trends Cell Biol. 1992;2:127-129. PMID:14731966