Unmasking of a potassium leak in resealed human red blood cell ghosts.
A selective potassium leak is observed in resealed, human red blood cell ghosts when hemolysis is performed with distilled water at pH 6.5, 0 degrees C. The leak, which has a maximum near pH 6.7, is suppressed when either magnesium or a chelating agent is present in the hemolysing medium. The potassium leak has the additional property that it can be suppressed after resealing by washing the ghost membranes in a medium containing a low concentration of ATP or EDTA. The data suggest that through the dilution of endogenous chelating agents at hemolysis a potassium leak may be unmasked.
D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood*
D002614:Chelating Agents; D008274:Magnesium; D011188:Potassium