Structural transitions in erythrocyte membranes in hereditary hemochromatosis

Changes in the thermal transition parameters of the backbone proteins of the erythrocyte plasma membrane, particularly of spectrin and membrane domain of band3 protein, in patients with hereditary hemochromatosis are demonstrated by differential scanning microcalorimetry. Electron microscopy (the freeze-fracture technique) reveals aggregation of intramembrane particles and their enlargement in erythrocyte membranes from patients in comparison with membranes from healthy donors. These structural changes in the erythrocyte membranes are assumed to contribute to hemolysis and iron overload of the organism.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]