ankyrin repeat


ankyrin repeat

A short repetitive sequence of amino acids consisting of a beta strand followed by two alpha helices and a beta strand. The beta strands on adjacent ankyrin repeats combine to form a short antiparallel beta sheet. Ankyrin repeats were first identified in ankyrin, which tethers different proteins (e.g., nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins), helping regulate gene expression and embryonic development.