
The scaffolding protein ankyrin-G is required for Na(+) channel clustering at axon initial segments. It is also considered essential for Na(+) channel clustering at nodes of Ranvier to facilitate fast and efficient action potential propagation. However, notwithstanding these widely accepted roles, we show here that ankyrin-G is dispensable for nodal Na(+) channel clustering in vivo. Unexpectedly, in the absence of ankyrin-G, erythrocyte ankyrin (ankyrin-R) and its binding partner βI spectrin substitute for and rescue nodal Na(+) channel clustering. In addition, channel clustering is also rescued after loss of nodal βIV spectrin by βI spectrin and ankyrin-R. In mice lacking both ankyrin-G and ankyrin-R, Na(+) channels fail to cluster at nodes. Thus, ankyrin R-βI spectrin protein complexes function as secondary reserve Na(+) channel clustering machinery, and two independent ankyrin-spectrin protein complexes exist in myelinated axons to cluster Na(+) channels at nodes of Ranvier.
Ankyrins, Male, Mice, Knockout, Spectrin, Mice, Transgenic, Article, Sodium Channels, Rats, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Ranvier's Nodes, Animals, Humans, Female
Ankyrins, Male, Mice, Knockout, Spectrin, Mice, Transgenic, Article, Sodium Channels, Rats, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Ranvier's Nodes, Animals, Humans, Female
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