Abstract
RESULTS of recent studies in our laboratory have suggested that zinc plays an important role in sickle cell anaemia. A significant proportion of sickle cell patients are zinc deficient1. Zinc binds to haemoglobin and increases oxygen affinity2,3. Sickle cells treated in vitro with zinc show markedly improved filterability at concentrations too low to be explained on an oxygen affinity basis4, and zinc may interact with the membranes to affect filterability. A recent report suggests that sickling involves the accumulation of calcium5 which is known to reduce red cell membrane deformability6. We have now found that zinc decreases the amount of haemoglobin associated with red cell membranes and inhibits the effect of calcium in causing haemoglobin retention by membranes.
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References
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DASH, S., BREWER, G. & OELSHLEGEL, F. Effect of zinc on haemoglobin binding by red blood cell membranes. Nature 250, 251–252 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/250251a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/250251a0
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