Frank R. Landsberger

A study of intact human erythrocytes and their ghosts using stearic acid spin labels

Abstract The electron spin resonance spectra of intact human red cells and isolated red cell ghosts labelled with stearic acid spin labels have been compared. No differences can be detected in the lipid phase of these two systems within the accuracy of the measurements. However, the bovine serum albumin-spin label complex used to label the membranes is strongly adsorbed to isolated ghosts, but not to intact red cells. It is suggested that at least part of the adsorption arises from increased accessibility of the inner surface of the isolated ghosts to spin-labelled bovine serum albumin.