Is there any connection between heat inactivation of spectrin-dependent ATPase and loss of smooth biconcave shape of red cells?

Spectrin-dependent ATPase activity was measured in membranes from native human erythrocytes and erythrocytes heated for 20 min at different temperatures. This activity was found to decline when the erythrocytes were heated at 48 degrees C and higher. The break in ATPase activity corresponds to morphological changes in erythrocytes found by Crome and Mollison [Brit. J. Haematol. (1964) 10, 137]. The role of spectrin-dependent ATPase in erythrocyte shape maintenance is discussed.