Adducins are a family of cytoskeleton proteins encoded by three genes (α, β, γ). Adducin is a protein associated with the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane and is one of the proteins localized at the spectrin-actin junction of the membrane skeleton. The cortical actin cytoskeletal network is lost during apoptosis and Adducins are central in the cortical actin network organization. Adducin α is a cytoskeletal protein involved with sodium-pump activity in the renal tubule and is associated with hypertension. The expression of Adducin α and Adducin γ is ubiquitous in contrast to the restricted expression of Adducin β. Adducin β is expressed at high levels in brain and hematopoietic tissues, such as bone marrow, in humans, and in spleen in mice.
