Overview:

Annexin 5 is a member of the annexin family of calcium-dependent phospholipid binding proteins. Annexin 5 is a phospholipase A2 and protein kinase C inhibitory protein with calcium channel activity and a potential role in cellular signal transduction, inflammation, growth and differentiation. In vitro studies have shown that Annexin 5 is a cellular protein which plays a role in the inhibition of blood coagulation by competing for phosphatidylserine binding sites with prothrombin (1). Through affinity assays Annexin 5 has been localized on cells that expressed phosphatidylserine on the cell surface, a feature found in apoptosis as well as other forms of cell death (2).

Gene Aliases:

ANXA5, PP4, ANX5, ENX2

Genbank Number:

NM_001154

References:

1. Koopman, G. et al: Annexin V for flow cytometric detection of phosphatidylserine expression on B cells undergoing apoptosis. Blood,1994; 84 (5): 1415–20.

2. Vermes, I. et al: A novel assay for apoptosis—flow cytometric detection of phosphatidylserine expression on early apoptotic cells using fluorescein labelled Annexin V. J Immunol Methods,1995; 184 (1): 39