The topology of red cell membrane lipids in hereditary spherocytosis.

The topology of membrane phospholipids in the red cells of patients with hereditary spherocytosis has been studied with the non-penetrating probe 2,3,5-trinitrobenzenesulphonate. There was no significant difference in the assymetric distribution of the aminophospholipids phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine across the two halves of the membrane bilayer in red cells of five patients with hereditary spherocytosis as compared to seven normal controls. These studies indicated that the complex processes responsible for membrane lipid assymetry are intact in hereditary spherocytosis.