Sickle Cell Anemia related to the Cytoskeleton:
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Sickle Cell Anemia is a disease of the blood which causes it to become "sickle" shaped. Red blood cells contain their shape using a specialized cytoskeleton composed of a network of the proteins actin and spectrin. The actin/spectrin lattice "locks", making red blood cells less deformable and causes them to obstruct the micro circulation. When a person is infected with this disease, the cells become deformed and compacted; they become fragile and can break and die easily causing a shortening of red blood cells. The organism infected with Sickle Cell Anemia can experience lack of red blood cells, swollen hands and feet, damage to spleen, delayed growth in youth, and vision problems.