Characterization of transgenic mouse erythrocytes with altered deoxyHb-binding sites on band 3. (A) Confocal immunofluorescence (top) and corresponding brightfield (bottom) images of murine RBCs stained with a monoclonal antibody to the NH2 terminus (residues 1-10) of human band 3. Note that wild-type mouse RBCs do not stain whereas both transgenic erythrocytes do. (B) Binding of deoxygenated murine Hb to KI-IOVs of normal and transgenic mouse erythrocytes. The y-axis shows the molecular ratio of deoxyHb to band 3. (C) Comparison of the osmotic fragility of wild-type and transgenic mouse erythrocytes. (D) Comparison of the deformability of wild-type and transgenic mouse erythrocytes by ektacytometry. The elongation index upon subjection of the erythrocytes to increasing shear stress is shown. The mean of maximal elongation index of 3 experiments is also shown.
