Add2 - adducin 2 (beta)

This gene encodes the beta subunit of the adducin family. Adducins, encoded by alpha, beta and gamma genes, are heteromeric proteins that crosslink actin filaments with spectrin at the cytoskeletal membrane. This protein, primarily found in the brain and hematopoietic cells, is regulated by phosphorylation and calmodulin interactions as it promotes spectrin assembly onto actin filaments, bundles actin and caps barbed ends of actin filaments. In mouse, deficiency of this gene can lead to mild hemolytic anemia and impaired synaptic plasticity. Mutations of this gene in mouse serve as a pathophysiological model for hereditary spherocytosis and hereditary elliptocytosis. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants that encode different protein isoforms. [provided by RefSeq, Dec 2012]