Active transport and enzymes of the erythrocyte membrane under protein deprivation.

1. Starvation for 3 days causes membrane damage of the rat erythrocyte manifested by several alterations. The adenosine-triphosphatase activity is decreased but that of acetylcholinesterase is not affected. 2. The ouabain-sensitive adenosine-triphosphatase activity increases at the expense of the non-sensitive enzyme moiety. 3. The Rb(+) uptake is not altered but the galactose transport is accelerated by the stated experimental conditions. 4. The modifications induced by starvation do not recover on re-feeding.