Red Blood Cell Membrane

Red Cell Membrane

▪ The membrane of the red blood cell is fragile so as to
allow the free passage of oxygen across the
membrane.
▪ The cytoskeleton of the membrane gives the red
blood cell round but flattened biconcave disc shape,
which enables the cell to deform and to flow
through the finest of capillaries to deliver oxygen.
▪ The biconcave disc shape also facilitates maximum
surface area enabling more oxygen to be up taken by
the red blood cell.
▪ The red cell membrane comprises a lipid bilayer,
integral membrane proteins and a membrane
skeleton.
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 Red Cell Membrane
▪ Approximately 50% of the membrane is protein, 20%
phospholipids, 20% cholesterols and up to 10% is
carbohydrate.
▪ Carbohydrate only occurs on the external surface,
while proteins are either peripheral or integral
penetrating the lipid bilayer.
▪ Several proteins have a structural role and are
important in maintaining the bi concave shape of red
cells. These include spectrin, ankyrin, protein 4.1 and
actin. Other proteins include band 3 and band 4.2.

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Red Cell Membrane

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 Principle Glycoprotein's
▪ The principle transmembrane glycoprotein are Band 3,
glycoprotein A (GPA), glycoprotein C (GPC) and Rh
associated glycoprotein (RhAG) These proteins function in
providing recognition, transport and anchorage sites.
▪ Alpha and beta spectrin are major structural components
that provide skeletal support for the structure of the cell
▪ Abnormalities in some components of the membrane and
cytoskeleton lead to haemolytic anaemia . An example of
this is the Haemolytic Anaemia associated with Hereditary
Spherocytosis where you have a gene defect that affects
the protein interactions between the skeleton membrane
and lipid bilayer of the red cell membrane. Mutation in the
genes producing spectrin and Ankyrin result in Hereditary
Spherocytosis
 Glycoprotein components of the
Red Cell Membrane
▪ Protein with transport functions.
1. Band 3, major anion transporter and central to gas exchange by
exchanging the bicarbonate ion and chloride.
2. Aquaporin, transporter of H2O, O2, and Co2
3. Kidd antigen, Urea transporter
4. Possible CO2 transporter, Rh D antigen
▪ Enzymes
1. Na/K/Ca ATPase
2. Carbonic Anhydrase
▪ Proteins with adhesive, receptor or structural functions.
1. See list

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 Proteins with Adhesive, Receptor or
Structural Function
▪ Intracellular adhesion molecules
▪ CD 47 (part of the Band 3/Rh complex interacts with
macrophages,
▪ Duffy blood group antigen receptor for Chemokines(DARC)
▪ Glycoprotein's A,B,C and D link the membrane to the internal
cytoskeleton
▪ CD 59 (membrane inhibitor of reactive lysis a complement
regulatory protein)
▪ CD 55 (decay accelerating factor- a complement regulatory
protein)