Cytoskeleton Protein Defects Flashcards
fragile cytoskeleton of RBCs
hemolytic anemia
complete absence of cytoskeletal protein dystrophin
Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy
dystrophin protein is present but abnormal
becker’s muscular dystrophy
hemolytic anemia characterized by spherical and …….
fragile RBCs that lyse and release hemoglobin
hereditary spherocytosis
in types of anemia, bone marrow cannot work fast enough to produce RBCs, so …..
the spleen will begin producing RBCs as well
hereditary spherocytosis cause
caused by mutations in genes for the erythrocyte membrane skeleton of RBCs
spectrin
osmotic fragility test
test the membrane strength of RBCs in a hypotonic solution
HS RBCs will burst
osmotic fragility curve
doing the osmotic fragility test over several trials w/ increasing hypotonic concentrations (decreased [NaCl])
normal RBCs will withstand the tests longer (closer to water) than HS RBCs
HS is the most common
most common hemolytic anemia in people of northern European descent
HS genes
most are identified but 10% of diseased - we do not know why they have HS
treatments for HS
- blood transfusions
- splenectomy - which removes spherocytes from circulation
- increase RBC# and Hb
DMD is the most common …..
fatal neuromuscular disorder
no cure
early 20s
DMD treatments
- nothing can alter course of disease
2. treatments to maintain general health and quality of life
DMD genetics
- x linked recessive
- dystrophin gene mutations
- genetic defect present at birth but does not show symptoms to ~3 yrs of age
function of dystrophin
provide structural stability to muscle cell membranes during contractions
dystrophin protein
- has 4 functional domains
- N-terminus binding to actin
- long spectrin like repeats
- cysteine rich
- bind to transmembrane proteins at c-terminus
dystrophin C-terminus
cysteine rich
binds to dystroglycans and syntrophins - transmembrane proteins
dystrophin is localized to
inner surface of muscle membrane
loss of dystrophin
results in destabilization of entire actin to membrane complex
dystrophic myopathy
progressive muscle degeneration with loss of functional muscle tissue over time w/ resulting weakness
clinical presentation of DMD
- elevated creatine kinase in blood (50-100x normal)
- slow walking, general weakness
- age of diagnosis ~5 years
- wheelchair dependent by 13 yrs
physical presentation of DMD
–necrosis of muscle fibers — replaced by fat or CT
leads to pseudohypertrophy