Alteration of Red Cell Membrane Subunit Pattern after Pronase Treatment

The effect of pronase on pig red blood cells has been studied. Membranes of normal and Pronase-treated red cells, as well as the muco-peptide released by pronase treatment, were compared by solubilization in sodium dodccylsulfate followed by separation into their single components by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels. A sialoglycoprotein was released, which was homogeneous and had a molecular weight of 25.000. A residual 50.000 MW glycopeptide remained in the membrane. Die Wirkung von Pronase auf Schweineerythrocyten wurde analysiert. Membranen unbehandelter und Pronase-behandelter Erythrocyten sowie das durch die Pronasebehandlung abgespaltene Mucopcptid wurden in Natrium-Dodecylsulfat gel st und in der Polyacrylamidgel-elektrophorese in ihre einzelnen Komponenten aufgetrennt. Im Wesentlichen wurde ein Sialoglykoprotein (MW 25.000) abgespalten, w hrend in der Pronase-behandelten Membran ein neues Glykopeptid (MW 50.000) entstand. In a recent review, the chemical composition and biological importance of red cell membrane glyco-proteins were extensively summarized (1, 2) and it was stressed that the topographical arrangement of the gtycoproteins within the membrane may deserve closer attention. A scheme has also been outlined (3, 4, 5) for differentiating between the different possibl