The role of spectrin-dependent ATPase in erythrocyte shape maintenance.
The paper reports on the relationship between spectrin-dependent ATPase and erythrocyte shape. It can be seen from various experiments that different treatment of erythrocyte membrane which brings about alteration in activity of spectrin-dependent ATPase, also changes erythrocyte shape. We suggest that spectrin-dependent ATPase is a large actomyosin-like protein complex with some characteristics of contractile protein which, under suitable conditions, causes a physiological tension (contraction) of the membrane. Energetically rich state of spectrin-dependent ATPase seems to be responsible for this phenomenon.
D000205:Actomyosin / Q000378:metabolism; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000097:blood*; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D013049:Spectrin / Q000097:blood*
D013049:Spectrin; D000205:Actomyosin; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D002118:Calcium