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Stanley Schrier

Publication Details

  • Transmembrane redistribution of phospholipids of the human red cell membrane during hypotonic hemolysis.

    Schrier SL, Zachowski A, Hervé P, Kader JC, Devaux PF. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1992; 1105 (1): 170-6

    The transmembrane distribution of spin-labeled phospholipids was measured in human erythrocytes before and after hypotonic hemolysis by electron paramagnetic resonance. With a first series of partially water soluble probes a complete randomization of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine and sphingomyelin analogues was achieved when cells were resealed in the absence of Mg-ATP or when the aminophospholipid translocase was inhibited by vanadate or calcium. If the ghosts were resealed with Mg-ATP inside, the transmembrane asymmetry of the aminophospholipids was reestablished. With long chain insoluble spin-labeled lipids complete randomization was obtained with the phosphatidylcholine analogue but even in the presence of vanadate only a small percentage (approx. 15%) of the spin-labeled phosphatidylserine flopped to the outer monolayer and comparable percentage of the spin-labeled sphingomyelin flipped to the inner monolayer, indicating a hierarchy in the phospholipid redistribution for these water insoluble lipids during hemolysis. The mechanism by which a selective randomization takes place is not known. It may involve phosphatidylserine-protein interactions in the inner leaflet and sphingomyelin-cholesterol or sphingomyelin-sphingomyelin interaction in the outer leaflet.

    PubMedID: 1314669

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