Ankyrins are broadly expressed adaptors that organize diverse membrane proteins into specialized domains and link them to the sub-membranous cytoskeleton. In neurons, ankyrins are known to have essential roles in organizing the axon initial segment and nodes of Ranvier. However, recent studies have revealed novel functions for ankyrins at synapses, where they organize and stabilize neurotransmitter receptors, modulate dendritic spine morphology and control adhesion to the presynaptic site. Ankyrin genes have also been highly associated with a range of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric diseases, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and autism, which all demonstrate overlap in their genetics, mechanisms and phenotypes. This review discusses the novel synaptic functions of ankyrin proteins in neurons, and places these exciting findings in the context of ANK genes as key neuropsychiatric disorder risk-factors.

锚蛋白是广泛表达的衔接子，其将多种膜蛋白组织到特定域中，并将它们连接到亚膜细胞骨架上。在神经元中，已知锚蛋白在组织Ranvier的轴突起始节和结节中起重要作用。然而，最近的研究揭示了突触中锚蛋白的新功能，在那里它们组织并稳定神经递质受体，调节树突棘形态并控制对突触前位点的粘附。锚蛋白基因还与一系列神经发育和精神病疾病高度相关，包括躁郁症，精神分裂症和自闭症，它们均在遗传学，机制和表型上均表现出重叠。这篇评论讨论了锚蛋白在神经元中的新型突触功能，ANK基因是关键的神经精神疾病的危险因素。