Membrane protein cross-linking is an early step in the pathogenesis of copper-induced hemolytic anemia

Abstract
Red cells [human] incubated with copper sulfate were tested for osmotic fragility, deformability and electrophoretic properties of membrane proteins. Cu treatment oxidized the SH of the membrane proteins to form intermolecular disulfide bonds, causing a reduction in membrane flexibility. Reduction in membrane flexibility was a major cause of the decreased red cell deformability in the early and mild toxic stages, before cell damage decreased the surface/vol ratio and increased the viscosity of red cell contents.

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