Presence of phosphatidylserine in the outer membrane bilayer of newborn human erythrocytes.

The phospholipid distribution across red cell membrane bilayer is asymmetrical. Sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholine are predominantly present in the outer membrane bilayer, whereas only small amounts of phosphatidylethanolamine and no phosphatidylserine are present in the outer membrane bilayer. The present study, using specific phospholipase, chemical probe, and Russell's viper venom clotting time has found that in neonatal red cells a portion of PS is also present in the outer membrane bilayer.