Ankyrin repeat domain–containing protein (ANKRD)

Ankyrin repeat domain–containing (ANKRD) proteins are a large and diverse group of proteins defined by the presence of ankyrin repeats, which are 33-residue motifs that facilitate specific protein-protein interactions (Li et al., 2006, PMID: 17113994). These proteins act as molecular scaffolds and are involved in a wide array of biological processes, including signal transduction, cytoskeletal maintenance, and transcriptional regulation (UniProt, 2024). Due to their central role in cellular organization, dysregulation of various ANKRD proteins is linked to diseases such as cancer, where they may promote proliferation, and cardiovascular diseases, where they respond to mechanical stress (PubMed, 2023). For example, ANKRD1 (also known as CARP) is a well-known marker of cardiac stress and hypertrophy, while ANKRD11 is essential for proper neural development and chromatin remodeling (NCBI, 2024). While the ANKRD family as a whole is not a single drug target, individual members are increasingly being investigated for their therapeutic potential in oncology and regenerative medicine. Developing drugs for these proteins typically involves identifying small molecules or peptides that can selectively disrupt the protein-protein interfaces formed by the ankyrin repeats. However, the high prevalence of ankyrin repeats across the human proteome poses a significant challenge for achieving drug selectivity and avoiding off-target effects.

Other names

ANKRD familyAnkyrin repeat proteinsAnkyrin repeat domain-containing proteinsANK proteins

Modulation of protein-protein interactions mediated by ankyrin repeat domains.