VISCOELASTIC PROPERTIES OF MONOLAYERS OF RED-CELL MEMBRANE-PROTEINS

The rheological properties of spectrin-actin (S + A) surface films have been studied from the point of view of their possible role in the red cell membrane structure and function. Our observations indicate the following: (1) The amount of S + A that is normally present in the membrane can form at least one monolayer and probably two when one considers that other membrane components (e.g., band 3 protein) are intermixed with it; (2) the viscoelastic properties of S + A films vary with the film thickness and the composition of the adjacent phases; (3) The magnitudes of the rheological parameters of the films are close to the analogous parameters of the red cell membrane and thus may account for these properties in the intact red cell. © 1979.