Open Access

Dietmar Dorn-Zachertz, Guido Zimmer

• 1-anilino-naphthalene-8-sulfonate (ANS) fluorescence measurements have revealed that red blood cell membrane of the Rhnull type undergoes a transition at about 16 degrees C. In contrast, viscosity measurements of the extracted membrane lipids showed the usually observed transition at about 18 degrees C. Lower values of titratable sulfhydryl (SH) groups were observed in Rhnull membrane using 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitro-benzoic-acid) (Nbs2). In contrast, disulfide bonds in Rhnull membrane were estimated to be about 3 times the value of the controls. Spin labeling experiments using 2-(3-carboxypropyl)-4, 4 dimethyl-2-tridecyl 3-oxazolidinyloxyl were carried out with phospholipase A2 modified membranes. The mobile part of the spectra was significantly increased on the Rhnull membrane. In the presence of D-glucose, infrared spectrometry showed a larger reduction of the intensity of the POO-band in Rhnull membrane. In contrast to controls, binding of the reagent diethylpyrocarbonate resulted in no significant changes of the Rhnull membrane as determined by electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements. D-glucose transport activity was found to be at the upper level of a group of Rh positive and Rh negative persons. It is suggested that the intensity of the polar protein-lipid interaction is reduced in Rhnull membrane.