Labelling of the intramembranous region of the major sialoglycoprotein of human erythrocytes with a photosensitive hydrophobic probe.

Human erythrocyte membranes were incubated with the photosensitive hydrophobic reagent 1-azido-r-iodo[3H]benzene and the mixture was irradiated. The major sialoglycoprotein was then isolated and the labelled polypeptide subjected to proteolytic dissection. Characterization of the purified tryptic and chymotryptic peptides show that the probe is covalently attached only to the transmembrane region of the protein. This labelling pattern is discussed in relation to the use of such reagents for the identification of segments of membrane proteins exposed to the hydrophobic millieu of the membrane.