Studies of erythrocyte membranes by ESR of spin probe

Abstract

The maleimide-analogue sulfhydryl spin label MAL-6 has been used to study the motional and structural behavior of erythrocyte membrane proteins. Erythrocyte ghosts from insulin-dependent diabetic patients with long-standing complications were mainly examined. The ratios of weakly- and strongly- immobilized -SH groups were valued from the ESR spectra. The results indicate a high degree of resistance of the erythrocyte membrane to rapid bending rather than an increased resistance to translational motion.