Human Erythrocyte Membrane Proteins Research Articles

Evaluation into the Effects of Lead and Cadmium on Hemoglobin and Membrane Proteins in Human Erythrocytes

Heavy metals have negative impacts on human health including red blood cells hemolysis and increases oxidation processes, leading to many health issues. In this study, several blood samples were collected from people who work in North Oil Company, Kirkuk, Iraq. In addition to people who live, work away from oil fields as the control group. This investigation looks at the impact of various concentrations of cadmium and / or lead individually and combined (Cd:Pb) on erythrocytes hemolysis. The findings demonstrated that hemolysis produced by the (100 mM) were (72.0, 88.80, and 96.90\%) for (Cd, Pb, and Cd: Pb) respectively. Vitamins (B2 and C) were applied with different concentrations (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 mol/L).to investigate the reduction of hemolysis percentage. The findings showed that both vitamins have positive effect in reducing the hemolysis percentage. Vitamin C has even more significant impact in reducing the hemolysis compared to Vitamin B2. In conclusion, cadmium and lead can cause erythrocyte hemolysis individually or combined, additionally, vitamins C and B2 were proved to in reducing hemolysis effectively.

Degradation of Spectrin and band 3 protein

Oxygen free radicals generated during radiation injury damage human erythrocyte membrane proteins including spectrin and band 3 protein. Results show an appreciable degree of spectrin and band 3 protein loss of about 55-65% due to crosslinking, and proteolysis when sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis carried out on erythrocyte ghosts. Oxidative damage to membrane proteins lead to degradation of its cytoskeletal components. Keywords: Spectrin, Band 3 protein, Erythrocyte ghosts, Oxygen free radicals

Novel Insights into Mercury Effects on Hemoglobin and Membrane Proteins in Human Erythrocytes.

Mercury (Hg) is a global environmental pollutant that affects human and ecosystem health. With the aim of exploring the Hg-induced protein modifications, intact human erythrocytes were exposed to HgCl2 (1–60 µM) and cytosolic and membrane proteins were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and AU-PAGE. A spectrofluorimetric assay for quantification of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation was also performed. Hg2+ exposure induces alterations in the electrophoretic profile of cytosolic proteins with a significant decrease in the intensity of the hemoglobin monomer, associated with the appearance of a 64 kDa band, identified as a mercurized tetrameric form. This protein decreases with increasing HgCl2 concentrations and Hg-induced ROS formation. Moreover, it appears resistant to urea denaturation and it is only partially dissociated by exposure to dithiothreitol, likely due to additional protein–Hg interactions involved in aggregate formation. In addition, specific membrane proteins, including band 3 and cytoskeletal proteins 4.1 and 4.2, are affected by Hg2+-treatment. The findings reported provide new insights into the Hg-induced possible detrimental effects on erythrocyte physiology, mainly related to alterations in the oxygen binding capacity of hemoglobin as well as decreases in band 3-mediated anion exchange. Finally, modifications of cytoskeletal proteins 4.1 and 4.2 could contribute to the previously reported alteration in cell morphology.

Evaluation of the Effect of Selected Brominated Flame Retardants on Human Serum Albumin and Human Erythrocyte Membrane Proteins.

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) have been using to reduce the flammability of plastics contained in many products, such as household articles, furniture, mattresses, textiles or insulation. Considering the fact that these compounds may be released into the environment leading to the exposure of living organisms, it is necessary to study their possible effects and mechanisms of action. Proteins play a crucial role in all biological processes. For this reason, a simple model of human serum albumin (HSA) was chosen to study the mechanism of BFRs’ effect on proteins. The study determined interactions between selected BFRs, i.e., tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), tetrabromobisphenol S (TBBPS), 2,4-dibromophenol (2,4-DBP), 2,4,6-tribromophenol (2,4,6-TBP) and pentabromophenol (PBP), and HSA by measurement of fluorescence of intrinsic tryptophan and absorbance of circular dichroism (CD). In addition, in order to understand the possible effect of these compounds in their native environment, the effect of BFRs on membrane proteins of human erythrocytes (red blood cells, RBCs) was also assessed. Among bromophenols, PBP had the strongest oxidative effect on RBC membrane, and 2,4-DBP demonstrated the weakest fluorescence-quenching effect of both membrane tryptophan and HSA. By contrast to PBP, 2,4-DBP and 2,4,6-TBP caused spatial changes of HSA. We have observed that among all analyzed BFRs, TBBPA caused the strongest oxidation of RBC membrane proteins and the model HSA protein, causing reduction of fluorescence of tryptophan contained in them. TBBPA also changed albumin conformation properties, leading to impairment of the α-helix structure. However, TBBPS had the weakest oxidative effect on proteins among studied BFRs and did not affect the secondary structure of HSA.

Pyridoxine Decreases Oxidative Stress on Human Erythrocyte Membrane Protein in vitro

Background: Pyridoxine has reduction and prevention against the levels of reactive oxygen species in in vitro studies. However, the biochemical mechanism that explains this behavior has not yet been fully clarified. Objective: To evaluate the effect of pyridoxine against oxidative damage on the membrane of human erythrocytes. Methods: Cumene hydroperoxide was used to induce oxidative stress in protein and lipid. Human erythrocytes were incubated with pyridoxine and cumene hydroperoxide, either alone or together for 8 h. Oxidative damage was determined by measuring lipid peroxidation and membrane protein carbonylation. Results: The results indicate that the malondialdehyde concentration decreased with increasing concentration of pyridoxine. The membrane protein content also decreased with increasing concentration of vitamin B6, which was confirmed by the decreased signal intensity in the western blot when compared to control without pyridoxine. Results demonstrate that pyridoxine can significantly decrease lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation in red cell membrane exposed to high concentrations of oxidant agent. Conclusion: Pyridoxine showed a protective effect against the oxidative stress in human erythrocytes in vitro, inhibiting the carbonylation and the oxidative damage of erythrocyte membrane proteins. To date, such an effect has not yet been reported in terms of protein oxidation.

ATP effects on response of human erythrocyte membrane to high pressure.

Phosphorylation of membrane proteins in human erythrocytes is mediated by intracellular ATP levels. Such phosphorylation modulates the interactions of the bilayer with the cytoskeleton and affects the membrane stability under high pressure. In erythrocytes with high intracellular ATP levels, the bilayer-cytoskeleton interaction was weakened. Compression of such erythrocytes induced the release of large vesicles due to the suppression of fragmentation and resulted in the enhanced hemolysis. On the other hand, in ATP-depleted erythrocytes the interaction between the bilayer and the cytoskeleton was strengthened. Upon compression of these erythrocytes, the release of small vesicles due to the facilitation of vesiculation resulted in suppression of hemolysis. Taken together, these results suggest that the responses, i.e., vesiculation, fragmentation, and hemolysis, of the erythrocytes to high pressure are largely modulated by the bilayer-cytoskeleton interaction, which is mediated by intracellular ATP levels.

An Improved 2-Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis Method for Resolving Human Erythrocyte Membrane Proteins.

The 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) technique is widely used for the analysis of complex protein mixtures extracted from biological samples. It is one of the most commonly used analytical techniques in proteomics to study qualitative and quantitative protein changes between different states of a cell or an organism (eg, healthy and diseased), conditionally expressed proteins, posttranslational modifications, and so on. The 2-DE technique is used for its unparalleled ability to separate thousands of proteins simultaneously. The resolution of the proteins by 2-DE largely depends on the quality of sample prepared during protein extraction which increases results in terms of reproducibility and minimizes protein modifications that may result in artifactual spots on 2-DE gels. The buffer used for the extraction and solubilization of proteins influences the quality and reproducibility of the resolution of proteins on 2-DE gel. The purification by cleanup kit is another powerful process to prevent horizontal streaking which occurs during isoelectric focusing due to the presence of contaminants such as salts, lipids, nucleic acids, and detergents. Erythrocyte membrane proteins serve as prototypes for multifunctional proteins in various erythroid and nonerythroid cells. In this study, we therefore optimized the selected major conditions of 2-DE for resolving various proteins of human erythrocyte membrane. The modification included the optimization of conditions for sample preparation, cleanup of protein sample, isoelectric focusing, equilibration, and storage of immobilized pH gradient strips, which were further carefully examined to achieve optimum conditions for improving the quality of protein spots on 2-DE gels. The present improved 2-DE analysis method enabled better detection of protein spots with higher quality and reproducibility. Therefore, the conditions established in this study may be used for the 2-DE analysis of erythrocyte membrane proteins for different diseases, which may help to identify the proteins that may serve as markers for diagnostics as well as targets for development of new therapeutic potential.

Structure of human erythrocyte band 3: two-dimensional crystallographic analysis of the membrane domain

Band 3 (also known as anion exchanger 1, AE1) is one of the most abundant membrane proteins in human erythrocytes. Band 3 has 911 amino acids and consists of two structurally and functionally distinct domains. One is a 40-kDa N-terminal cytoplasmic domain and the other is a 55-kDa C-terminal membrane domain. The cytoplasmic domain maintains red cell shape through interactions with cytoskeletal proteins, such as protein 4.1, protein 4.2, ankyrin, and spectrin. On the other hand, the membrane domain mediates electroneutral exchange of anions, such as bicarbonate and chloride across the erythrocyte membrane. We reported the three-dimensional structure of the outward-open membrane domain of band 3, which was cross-linked between K539 and K851 with H2DIDS, at 7.5 Å resolution using cryo-electron crystallography. Although the results showed significantly improved resolution as compared with previous structural analyses, we could not assign all α-helices because of low resolution and uncertainty persists regarding the fold of band 3. However, we recognized that band 3 has internal repeats, because the structure exhibited distinctive anti-parallel V-shaped motifs, which protrude from the membrane bilayer on both sides. One of the helices in the motif is very long and highly tilted with respect to the normal structure of the bilayer.

Generation of mice expressing human RHAG and RHD blood group genes

AbstractAnti‐RhD prophylaxis of haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) is highly effective, but since the suppressive mechanism remains uncertain, a mouse model of this pathology would be useful to achieve a better understanding of the processes involved. A number of highly interesting models of mice transgenic for human blood groups, producing alloantibodies through transfusion, and even pregnancy, have been developed in recent years. Expression of RhD has, however, proved difficult in mice, due to its integration into a membrane complex, a heterotrimer involving not only Rh, but also its RhAG protein partner. In our experience, RhD could be expressed from a human RHD gene on a BAC or from RHD cDNA under control of β‐globin regulatory elements, but RhD erythrocyte membrane expression was obtained only in mice transgenic for both the RHAG and RHD human genes. We here give an overview of our approach to the generation of transgenic mice co‐expressing human RhAG and RhD erythrocyte membrane proteins, and discuss further challenges to be resolved in the quest for a model of RhD alloimmunisation and HDFN.

Mice Expressing RHAG and RHD Human Blood Group Genes

Anti-RhD prophylaxis of haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) is highly effective, but as the suppressive mechanism remains uncertain, a mouse model would be of interest. Here we have generated transgenic mice expressing human RhAG and RhD erythrocyte membrane proteins in the presence and, for human RhAG, in the absence, of mouse Rhag. Human RhAG associates with mouse Rh but not mouse Rhag on red blood cells. In Rhag knockout mice transgenic for human RHAG, the mouse Rh protein is “rescued” (re-expressed), and co-immunoprecipitates with human RhAG, indicating the presence of hetero-complexes which associate mouse and human proteins. RhD antigen was expressed from a human RHD gene on a BAC or from RHD cDNA under control of β-globin regulatory elements. RhD was never observed alone, strongly indicative that its expression absolutely depends on the presence of transgenic human RhAG. This first expression of RhD in mice is an important step in the creation of a mouse model of RhD allo-immunisation and HDFN, in conjunction with the Rh-Rhag knockout mice we have developed previously.

Fullerenol C60(OH)36 could associate to band 3 protein of human erythrocyte membranes

The present study was aimed at investigating the effect of fullerenol C60(OH)36 on chosen parameters of the human erythrocyte membrane and the preliminary estimation of the properties of fullerenol as a potential linking agent transferring the compounds (e.g., anticancer drugs) into the membrane of erythrocytes. The results obtained in this study confirm the impact of fullerenol on erythrocyte cytoskeletal transmembrane proteins, particularly on the band 3 protein. The presence of fullerenol in each of the concentrations used prevented degradation of the band 3 protein. The results show that changes in the morphology of red blood cells caused by high concentrations of fullerenol (up to 150mg/L) did not lead to increased red blood cell hemolysis or the leakage of potassium. Moreover, fullerenol slightly prevented hemolysis and potassium efflux. The protective effect of fullerenol at the concentration of 150mg/L was 20.3%, and similar results were obtained for the efflux of potassium. The study shows that fullerenol slightly changed the morphology of the cells and, therefore, altered the intracellular organization of erythrocytes through the association with cytoskeletal proteins.

Expression Levels of the ABCG2 Multidrug Transporter in Human Erythrocytes Correspond to Pharmacologically Relevant Genetic Variations

We have developed a rapid, simple and reliable, antibody-based flow cytometry assay for the quantitative determination of membrane proteins in human erythrocytes. Our method reveals significant differences between the expression levels of the wild-type ABCG2 protein and the heterozygous Q141K polymorphic variant. Moreover, we find that nonsense mutations on one allele result in a 50% reduction in the erythrocyte expression of this protein. Since ABCG2 polymorphisms are known to modify essential pharmacokinetic parameters, uric acid metabolism and cancer drug resistance, a direct determination of the erythrocyte membrane ABCG2 protein expression may provide valuable information for assessing these conditions or for devising drug treatments. Our findings suggest that erythrocyte membrane protein levels may reflect genotype-dependent tissue expression patterns. Extension of this methodology to other disease-related or pharmacologically important membrane proteins may yield new protein biomarkers for personalized diagnostics.

Differential actions of proteinases and neuraminidase on mammalian erythrocyte surface and its impact on erythrocyte agglutination by concanavalin A

Action of proteinases viz. trypsin and chymotrypsin, and neuraminidase on intact erythrocyte membrane proteins and glycophorins (sialoglycoproteins) exposed to cell surface and its impact on lectin (concanavalin A)-mediated agglutination were studied in Homo sapiens (human), Capra aegagrus hircus (goat) and Bubalus bubalis (buffalo). Membrane proteins and glycophorins analysis by SDS-PAGE as visualized by coomassie brilliant blue and periodic acid-schiff stains, respectively, and agglutination behaviour revealed marked differences: 1) there were prominent dissimilarities in the number and molecular weights of glycophorins in human, goat and buffalo erythrocyte membranes; 2) proteinase action(s) on human and buffalo erythrocyte surface membrane proteins and glycophorins showed similarity but was found different in goat; 3) significant differences in erythrocyte agglutinability with concanavalin A can be attributed to differences in membrane composition and alterations in the surface proteins after enzyme treatment; 4) a direct correlation was found between degradation of glycophorins and concanavalin A agglutinability; 5) action of neuraminidase specifically indicated the negative role of cell surface sialic acids in determining concanavalin A agglutinability of goat and buffalo erythrocytes, similar to human. Present studies clearly indicate that there are some basic differences in human, goat and buffalo erythrocyte membrane proteins, especially with respect to glycophorins, which determine the concanavalin A-mediated agglutination in enzyme treated erythrocytes.

Characterization of β-lactoglobulin from buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) colostrum and its possible interaction with erythrocyte lipocalin-interacting membrane receptor

Lipocalins form a widespread class of proteins involved in the transport of weakly soluble vitamins, hormones or hydrophobic molecules. β-lactoglobulin (BLG-col), a major lipocalin present in whey was purified and characterized from buffalo colostrum. The molecular weight of BLG-col as determined by Liquid chromatography -electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) was 18.257 kDa and the peptide mass fingerprint of the purified protein revealed 67% sequence homology to buffalo milk β-lg. The N-terminal-IIVTQ and LC-ESI-collision-induced dissociation-Electron transfer dissociation mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry analyses of doubly (m/z 1156(+2)) and triply (m/z 546(+3)) charged ion pairs corresponding to VYVEELKPTPEGDLEILLQK (41-60) and TPEVDDEALEKFDK (125-138) sequences confirmed the identity of BLG-col. Using these peptide sequences, the location of a gene encoding for BLG-col was identified on chromosome 11 at 11q28 loci of bovine genome. The unique property of the BLG-col isolated from buffalo colostrum was its strong and specific haemagglutinating activity with 'O' blood of human erythrocytes with 10,309 HAU/mg protein. The cell surface localization of BLG-col on human erythrocytes was confirmed by immunocytochemistry and the specificity of interaction was established by immunoblot analysis of human erythrocyte membrane proteins. Based on these observations, we suggest the presence of lipocalin receptor (70 kDa) on human erythrocyte membrane and the multiple sequence alignment supported structural diversity among lipocalin receptors.

ChemInform Abstract: Three‐Dimensional Structure of Membrane Protein Stomatin and Function of Stomatin‐Specific Protease

AbstractReview: 18 refs.

Combined Proteomic Approaches for the Identification of Specific Amino Acid Residues Modified by 4-Hydroxy-2-Nonenal under Physiological Conditions

Proteins modified by 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) are cellular markers of oxidative stress in health and disease. HNE is generated by free radical chain reactions during oxidative stress as a major end-product of the oxidative fatty acid metabolism. Identification and quantitative analysis of HNE-modified proteins are readily performed by using specific antibodies raised against them. Further on, the identification of the amino acid residues involved in the HNE-modification is an additional step in proteomic post-transcriptional modification analysis to explain the nature of the specificity underlying oxidative stress mechanisms. For this purpose, a combined protocol of immune-detection, peptide enrichment, mass spectrometry, and de novo protein sequencing has been developed. The methodology was first examined in the model protein bovine serum albumin (BSA), allowing the comparison of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-tandem time of flight (MALDI-TOF/TOF) mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) performance and sensitivity. Peptide enrichment was optimized by affinity chromatography on HNE-BSA resulting in increased sensitivity. Identification of amino acid residues modified by HNE was finally ascertained by de novo sequencing analysis. The improved methodology was demonstrated on human erythrocyte membrane proteins allowing the identification of HNE-lysine and HNE-histidine Michael adducts in the β-spectrin under physiological conditions.

Three-dimensional Structure of Membrane Protein Stomatin and Function of Stomatin-specific Protease

Stomatin is a major integral membrane protein of human erythrocytes, the absence of which is associated with a form of hemolytic anemia known as hereditary stomatocytosis. It is reported that stomatin regulates the gating of acid-sensing ion channels in mammalian neurons. However, the function of stomatin is not fully understood. In the genomic sequence of the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus horikoshii, the putative operon-forming genes PH1511 and PH1510 encode stomatin and its partner protein, respectively. The N-terminal region of PH1510p (1510-N) is a serine protease, and specifically cleaves the C-terminal hydrophobic region of stomatin PH1511p. We have determined the first crystal structure of the core domain of stomatin PH1511p (residues 56-234, designated as PhSto(CD)). This review focuses on the three-dimensional structure of PhSto(CD), and discusses the function of stomatin and its specific protease 1510-N. PhSto(CD) forms a novel homotrimeric structure. Three α/β domains form a triangle of about 50 Å on each side, and three α-helical segments about 60 Å in length extend from the apexes of the triangle. The α/β domain of PhSto(CD) is partly similar in structure to the band-7 domain of mouse flotillin-2. While the α/β domain is relatively rigid, the α-helical segment shows a conformational flexibility, adapting to the neighboring environment. One α-helical segment forms an anti-parallel coiled-coil with another α-helical segment from a symmetry-related molecule. The α-helical segment shows a heptad repeat pattern, and mainly hydrophobic residues form a coiled-coil interface. The coiled-coil fold observed in the crystal probably contributes to the self-association.

The M18 aspartyl aminopeptidase of Plasmodium falciparum binds to human erythrocyte spectrin in vitro

BackgroundDuring erythrocytic schizogony, Plasmodium falciparum interacts with the human erythrocyte membrane when it enters into, grows within and escapes from the erythrocyte. An interaction between the P. falciparum M18 aspartyl aminopeptidase (PfM18AAP) and the human erythrocyte membrane protein spectrin was recently identified using phage display technology. In this study, recombinant (r) PfM18AAP was characterized and the interaction between the enzyme and spectrin, as well as other erythrocyte membrane proteins, analyzed.MethodsrPfM18AAP was produced as a hexahistidine-fusion protein in Escherichia coli and purified using magnetic bead technology. The pI of the enzyme was determined by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and the number of subunits in the native enzyme was estimated from Ferguson plots. The enzymatic activity over a pH and temperature range was tested by a coupled enzyme assay. Blot overlays were performed to validate the spectrin-PfM18AAP interaction, as well as identify additional interactions between the enzyme and other erythrocyte membrane proteins. Sequence analysis identified conserved amino acids that are expected to be involved in cofactor binding, substrate cleavage and quaternary structure stabilization.ResultsrPfM18AAP has a molecular weight of ~67 kDa and the enzyme separated as three entities with pI 6.6, 6.7 and 6.9. Non-denaturing gel electrophoresis indicated that rPfM18AAP aggregated into oligomers. An in vitro coupled enzyme assay showed that rPfM18AAP cleaved an N-terminal aspartate from a tripeptide substrate with maximum enzymatic activity at pH 7.5 and 37°C. The spectrin-binding region of PfM18AAP is not found in Homo sapiens, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and otherPlasmodium species homologues. Amino acids expected to be involved in cofactor binding, substrate cleavage and quaternary structure stabilization, are conserved. Blot overlays with rPfM18AAP against spectrin and erythrocyte membrane proteins indicated that rPfM18AAP binds to spectrin, as well as to protein 4.1, protein 4.2, actin and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase.ConclusionStudies characterizing rPfM18AAP showed that this enzyme interacts with erythrocyte spectrin and other membrane proteins. This suggests that, in addition to its proposed role in hemoglobin digestion, PfM18AAP performs other functions in the erythrocyte host and can utilize several substrates, which highlights the multifunctional role of malaria enzymes.

Tryptophan phosphorescence study of the influence of detergents on the internal dynamics of human erythrocyte membrane proteins

Room-temperature tryptophan phosphorescence was used to assess the slow (millisecond) internal dynamics of proteins in isolated human erythrocyte membranes under the action of detergents: dodecylsulfate, lauroyl sarcosinate, deoxycholate, digitonin, and Tween 20 (concentrations varied from 0.01 to 6 mM). All detergents markedly enhanced the slow internal dynamics, but the dose-response patterns were specific for each agent. The aggregate data support the idea that the slow internal dynamics is restricted in membrane proteins relative to soluble proteins mostly because of intramembrane protein association and isolation from the aqueous milieu, with a possible contribution of a more rigid secondary structure.

Effects of surface proteins of human erythrocyte membrane on the interaction with lipopolysaccharides from Escherichia coli O55:B5

The role of erythrocytic surface membrane proteins and membrane charge in the interactions of the erythrocytes with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) isolated from Escherichia coli O55:B5 (LPSE. coli, S-form) has been examined by two independent methods, flow cytometry and cell electrophoresis. Treatment of erythrocytes with trypsin that modifies stereochemical properties of cell surface resulted in a 16% increase in the level of the erythrocyte fluorescence measured after their incubation with fluorescently labeled LPSE. coli. Electrophoretic mobility (EM) of the trypsin-treated erythrocytes was reduced by 16%. The removal of sialic acids from the erythrocyte surface with neuraminidase had no considerable effect either on the relative EM values or fluorescence intensity after the incubation of cells with LPS. The results suggest that the major role in the incorporation of the S-form LPS into the membrane of human erythrocytes is played by stereochemical factors, whereas the cell surface charge is less significant.