The effect of selenium on the function of the anion transporter (Band 3) of erythrocyte membranes.

The transport activity of Band 3 of spectrin-stripped inside-out erythrocyte membrane vesicles (IOVs) or resealed ghosts was enhanced in the presence of trace amounts of Na2SeO3 (0.2-0.5 p.p.m.); however, at higher concentrations of Na2SeO3 (> 4.0 p.p.m.), an inverse result was obtained. Reassociation of spectrin with IOVs has no effect either on the transport activity of Band 3 or on the enhancement of its activity by Na2SeO3. Sulfhydryl reagents (p-chloromercuribenzoic acid and N-ethylmaleimide) could also inhibit Band 3 activity and eliminate the selenium effect. It is suggested that SH groups are involved in anion transport of Band 3 and that the selenium effect is based on the interaction of SH groups of Band 3 with Na2SeO3.

Involvement of spectrin and ATP in infection of resealed erythrocyte ghosts by the human malarial parasite, Plasmodium falciparum.

Resealed erythrocyte ghosts were prepared under different experimental conditions and were tested in vitro for susceptibility to infection with the human malarial parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Resealed ghosts, prepared by dialyzing erythrocytes in narrow membrane tubing against low ionic strength buffer that was supplemented with magnesium ATP, were as susceptible to parasite infection as were normal erythrocytes. There was a direct correlation between intraerythrocytic ATP content and susceptibility to parasite infection. Neither MgCl2 nor sodium ATP could be substituted for magnesium ATP in maintaining high intraerythrocytic ATP concentration. When resealed ghosts were loaded with antispectrin IgG, malaria merozoite invasion was inhibited. At an average intracellular antispectrin IgG concentration of 3.5 micrograms/10(8) cells, there was a 35% inhibition of parasite invasion. This inhibition was due to spectrin crosslinking within the resealed ghosts, since the monovalent, Fab' fragments of antispectrin IgG had no inhibitory effect on invasion. These results indicate that the cytoskeleton plays a role in the complex process of merozoite entry into the host erythrocyte.