RBC membrane Structure Flashcards
Average volume of RBC
90 fL (range: 80-100 fL)
Average surface area of RBC
140 μm2
________________of RBCs facilitates its oxygen-carbon dioxide transport function.
Biconcave disc shape of RBCs
allows RBCs to adjust to small vessels in the microvasculature and still maintain a constant surface area: volume ratio
Deformability
RBC deformability depends on:
- RBC geometry
- Relative cytoplasmic (hemoglobin) viscosity
- Membrane elasticity (pliancy)
Normal erythrocyte Hgb concentration has a _______ viscosity (fluid)
low
↓ water and hemoglobin (precipitated, polymerized, or crystallized) →
Less deformable which leads to cell lysis
Precipitated hemoglobin leads to the formation of
Heinz bodies
Polymerized hemoglobin leads to the formation of
Hemoglobin S
Crystallized hemoglobin leads to the formation of
Hemoglobin C
Changes in the surface area to volume ratio causes?
RBC fragmentation and lysis
Fragmentation is due to?
The decrease in surface area
Lysis is due to?
The increase in cell volume
3 basic functions of the RBC membrane
- Regulates osmotic pressure
- Regulates cation concentration
- Regulates gas concentrations
Percentage of lipids
40%
Predominant in lipids
phospholipids and cholesterol
Arranged in a double layer called lipid bilayer leaflet |provides membrane fluidity
Phospholipids
Predominant in external surface of Phospholipids
phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin (with 5% glycolipid)
sugar-bearing lipids
support carbohydrate side chains
anchors glycocalyx
bears blood group antigens
Glycolipid
Predominant in the internal surface of phospholipids
phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine
regulates membrane fluidity and membrane permeability
maintains surface area:volume ratio
Cholesterol
Charac of cholesterol
Esterified
Hydrophobic
Equally distributed between the outer and inner layer
evenly distributed within each layer
Cholesterol content depends on
plasma cholesterol, bile acids, activity of LCAT (lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase)
Abnormal L/S ratio
Acanthocyte
↑ cholesterol, phospholipids
Codocyte
↓ cholesterol
Ovalocyte
Cholesterol confers tensile strength to the lipid bilayer
↑ cholesterol → ↑ membrane strength → ↓ elasticity
Percentage of carbohydrates
8%
🖝 layer of carbohydrates whose net negative charge prevents microbial attack and protects the RBC from mechanical damage
🖝 surface carbohydrates joined with glycolipids
Glycocalyx
Percentage of proteins
52%
contains sialic acid which gives RBCs a negative charge
Integral Proteins/Transmembrane Proteins
Functions of Integral Proteins/Transmembrane Proteins
Transport site
Adhesion site
Signaling receptors
principal integral CHON
Band 3
2 macromolecular complexes of integral proteins:
Ankyrin complex
Protein 4.1 complex/Actin junctional complex
Major components of ankyrin complex
Band 3 multimers
Protein 4.2
Major components of Protein 4.1 complex/Actin junctional complex
Band 3 dimers
Protein 4.2
Adducin
Other transmembrane CHONs
Aquaporin 1
Glut-1
glycophorins
Na+, K+-ATPase
Ca+2-
ATPase
blood group antigen
ICAM-4
🞍 Prevents loss of lipid bilayer
🞍 Provides membrane structural integrity
Integral CHONs + peripheral CHONs
principal cytoskeletal CHONs
a-spectrin and β-spectrin
Other cytoskeletal CHONs
F-actin (band 5)
adducin
ankyri
dematin
tropomodulin
tropomyosin
Functions of Peripheral Proteins/Cytoskeletal Proteins
Spectrin stabilization
Membrane deformation
RBC membrane is impermeable to
• Na+
• K+
• Ca2+
RBC membrane is permeable to
• H2O
• HCO3-
• Cl-
Transmembrane protein; water transporter
Aquaporin 1
What happens when there is a decrease of Aquaporin 1
Hereditary spherocytosis
Intracellular (Na: K ratio)
1:12
Extracellular (Na: K ratio)
25:1
controls active transport of sodium & potassium
Na+, K+ - ATPase
↑ Na → water enters the cell →
Cell lysis
↑ K →
Cell shrinkage
maintains low intracellular Ca2+ levels (5-10 µmol/L)
Ca2+ - ATPase
controls the function of Ca2+ - ATPase
Calmodulin
↑ Ca → ↓ membrane stability cell →
cell becomes less deformable
Colloid Osmotic Hemolysis:
ATP loss or Pump damage → Na+, Ca2+ influx → water enters the cell → swelling (spheroid) → rupture