Erythrocyte membrane proteins. Sequential accumulation in the membrane during reticulocyte maturation.

Reticulocytes of increasing maturity were separated by dextran gradient centrifugation. The accumulation in the membrane of the anion transport protein and other erythrocyte membrane proteins was studied during reticulocyte maturation by separating reticulocytes after incubation with [35S]-methionine. The incorporation of the reticulocyte membrane proteins was shown to be sequential, the anion transport protein being inserted at a very early stage in the cells' maturation.