This is a real-world medical entrance exam question, please give the true answer based on the question and selection. Topic name: None, Subject name: Physiology
Hereditary spherocytosis is due to deficiency of:September 2007 
Select and explain. 
A. Spectrin, B. Pyruvate kinase, C. Cytokeratin, D. Integrin
A: Spectrin
Answer: A: Spectrin 
Explanation: Ans. A: SpectrinHereditary spherocytosis (HS) is due to a deficiency of a protein called ankyrin.Ankyrins are cell membrane proteins (thought to interconnect integral proteins with the spectrin-based membrane skeleton)The ankyrin of red blood cells (erythrocytic ankyrin) is called ankyrin-R/ankyrin-1/ ANK1.