Parallel decrease of erythrocyte membrane deformability and spectrin solubility at low pH

Reduction of pH over the range 6.0–4.5 results in a decrease of erythrocyte deformability in parallel with the induced progressive sphericity of cells. At low deformation rates employed, increase of hemoglobin viscosity was not significant. A decrease of membrane elasticity was detected in cells when sphering, the major determinant of cellular deformability, was prevented at pH 5.0 by hyperosmotic medium. The pronounced change of deformability and the reduced elasticity occurred at calculated intracellular pH values at which solubility in vitro of extracted erythrocyte spectrin is also markedly reduced. The parallel decrease of deformability and spectrin solubility supports the hypothesis that spectrin aggregation may contribute to regulation of erythrocyte deformability through effects on shape and membrane elastic characteristics.