Abstract
In this paper we report the lead (Pb) and calcium (Ca) uptake by erythrocyte ghosts. In both cases the transport was carried out by a passive transport system with two kinetic components (Michaelis-Menten and Hill). Pb and Ca were capable of inhibiting the transport of the other metal in a non-competitive way. Under hyperpolarization, the uptakes of Ca and Pb were enhanced and the Michaelis-Menten component prevailed. Both Ca and Pb uptakes were inhibited by N-ethyl-maleimide to the same extent. These results indicate that Pb and Ca share the same permeability pathway in human erythrocytes and that this transport system is electrogenic.