Annexin 8 [D-1]

The annexin family is composed of at least ten mammalian genes that encode calcium-binding proteins. The annexin proteins are characterized by a conserved core domain, which binds to phospholipids in a calcium-dependent manner. Annexin family members have been implicated as regulators of such diverse processes as ion flux, endocytosis and exocytosis, and cellular adhesion. Annexin V is ubiquitously expressed at high levels in tissues and cells grown in tissue culture, while Annexin VIII exhibits a more limited distribution. Where coexpressed in the same tissues, Annexin VIII is often expressed at a 100-fold lower level than Annexin V. However, Annexin VIII is preferentially expressed in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells, which may relate to its role in hematopoietic cell differentiation. At this time it is believed that there are duplicated copies of ANXA8-like genes on human chromosome 10q11.22 which putatively encode 3 highly similar proteins designated ANXA8L1 and ANXA8L2 (Annexin A8-like 1 and Annexin A8-like 2).