title: Temperature transitions of protein properties in human red blood cells.
abstract: Human red blood cells (RBC) undergo a sudden change from blocking to passing through 1.3 +/- 0.2-micrometer micropipettes at a transition temperature (Tc) of 36.4 degrees C. For resealed RBC ghosts this transition occurs at 28.3 degrees C (Tg). These findings are attributed to an elastomeric transition of hemoglobin from being gel-like to a fluid and to an elastomeric transition of membrane proteins such as spectrin. Spectrin shows a uniform distribution along the aspirated RBC tongue above Tg in contrast to the linear gradient below Tg.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biophysics, Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Ginsterweg 1, D-52428 Jülich, Germany. artmann@fh-aachen.de
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Artmann
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kelemen
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Porst
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Büldt
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chien
mesh_terms: D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*; D004548:Elasticity; D004907:Erythrocyte Deformability / Q000502:physiology*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*; D005782:Gels; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D013049:Spectrin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D013696:Temperature; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D005782:Gels; D006454:Hemoglobins; D013049:Spectrin