Annexins are cytosolic proteins with conserved three-dimensional structures that bind acidic phospholipids in cellular membranes at elevated Ca²⁺ levels. Through this they act as Ca²⁺-regulated membrane binding modules that organize membrane lipids, facilitating cellular membrane transport but also displaying extracellular activities. Recent discoveries highlight annexins as sensors and regulators of cellular and organismal stress, controlling inflammatory reactions in mammals, environmental stress in plants, and cellular responses to plasma membrane rupture. Here, we describe the role of annexins as Ca²⁺-regulated membrane binding modules that sense and respond to cellular stress and share our view on future research directions in the field.

膜联蛋白是具有保守三维结构的胞质蛋白，在 Ca ²⁺水平升高时与细胞膜中的酸性磷脂结合。通过这种方式，它们充当 Ca ²⁺调节的膜结合模块，组织膜脂质，促进细胞膜运输，但也显示细胞外活动。最近的发现强调了膜联蛋白作为细胞和生物体应激的传感器和调节器，控制哺乳动物的炎症反应、植物的环境应激以及细胞对质膜破裂的反应。在这里，我们描述了膜联蛋白作为 Ca ²⁺调节的膜结合模块的作用，可以感知和响应细胞应激，并分享我们对该领域未来研究方向的看法。