The organization of the major protein of the human erythrocyte membrane

The enzyme lactoperoxidase was used to catalyse the radioiodination of membrane proteins in intact human erythrocytes and in erythrocyte ;ghosts'. Two major proteins of the erythrocyte membrane were isolated after iodination of these two preparations, and the peptide ;maps' of each protein so labelled were compared. Peptides from both proteins are labelled in the intact cell. In addition, further mobile peptides derived from one of the proteins are labelled only in the ;ghost' preparation. Various sealed ;ghost' preparations were also iodinated, lactoperoxidase being present only at either the cytoplasmic or extra-cellular surface of the membrane. The peptide ;maps' of protein E (the major membrane protein) labelled in each case were compared. Two discrete sets of labelled peptides were consistently found. One group is obtained when lactoperoxidase is present at the extra-cellular surface and the other group is found when the enzyme is accessible only to the cytoplasmic surface of the membrane. The results support the assumption that the organization of protein E in the membrane of the intact erythrocyte is unaltered on making erythrocyte ;ghosts'. They also confirm previous suggestions that both the sialoglycoprotein and protein E extend through the human erythrocyte membrane.