Annexin

Annexin is a common name for a group of cellular proteins. The annexins are a family of proteins, first described in the 1980s, that bind calcium-dependently to phospholipid membranes. They are found in all kingdoms (animal, plant and fungi) with the exception of the bacteria.

In humans the annexins are found inside the cell. However some annexins (Annexin A1, Annexin A2 and Annexin A5) have also been found outside the cellular environment for example in blood. How the annexins are transported out of the cell into the blood is a mystery because they lack a signal peptide which is necessary for proteins to be transported out of the cell.

Annexin is also known as "lipocortin". . Lipocortins suppress phospholipase A2. This is the mechanism by which glucocorticoids (primarily cortisol) inhibits inflammation.

Types

 * Annexin A1
 * Annexin A2
 * Annexin A5