Open AccessFocal Erythrocyte Membrane Perturbations Caused by Nitroxide Lipid Analogues
Author(s) -
Vincenz G. Bieri,
Donald F. Hoelzl Wallach,
PeckSun Lin
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.71.12.4797
Subject(s) - nitroxide mediated radical polymerization , lysis , biophysics , membrane , echinocyte , chemistry , lipid bilayer , cell membrane , osmotic pressure , fragility , biochemistry , crystallography , biology , radical polymerization , organic chemistry , copolymer , polymer
Three classes of lipoidal nitroxide spin probes reversibly perturb erythrocyte membranes at low concentrations (10-10 -10-5 M). This is manifest in (a ) decreased osmotic fragility and (b ) alterations of surface topology. At bulk phase nitroxide concentrations providing maximal osmotic stabilization, the erythrocytes exhibit a classic echinocyte morphology. At nitroxide concentrations very slightly higher than those yielding minimal osmotic fragility (10-5 -10-4 M), the cellus undergo a sphering reaction and lyse. The morphologic sequence seen in intact cells is not observed in erythrocyte ghosts. We suggest that the spin probes initially concentrate in focal domains, which expand into echinocytic protrusions primarily due to localized weakening of membrane cohesion. We propose that cell lysis involves an irreversible breakdown in membrane domain structure.