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This paper demonstrates the translational movement along the plane of the human erythrocyte ghost of the membrane particles exposed by freeze-fracture. The membrane particles can be aggregated by incubation of the ghosts in media with a pH in the vicinity of 5 5 or 3 5. The particles are disaggregated in neutral and alkaline media (pH 9 5) and also at pH 4.5 Aggregation of the particles at pH 5.5 is reversible, prevented by prefixation in glutaraldehyde and by media of high ionic strength. Particle aggregation occurs within 2-4 min. These results are consistent with the concept that the erythrocyte ghost membrane is a planar fluid domain formed by a bilayer membrane continuum which is interrupted by localized, yet mobile, proteic intercalations.
Pedro Pinto da Silva (Thu,) studied this question.