Interaction of silicate dust with erythrocyte ghost membrane: In vitro studies

Composition of the erythrocyte ghost membrane obtained from slate‐dust‐lysed and hypotonically lysed erythrocytes were compared in vitro. The protein and cholesterol contents were unaltered, whilst phospholipid and glycosamine contents decreased significantly in the slate‐dust‐lysed preparation of erythrocyte ghost membrane. Na+, K+‐ATPase activity remained unchanged, whilst acetylcholinesterase activity was decreased slightly by slate dust treatment. Further, binding of silicic acid, dissolving out of slate dust, was observed with a component of erythrocyte ghost membrane protein having molecular weight around 90 000 daltons. The significance of the findings is discussed.