Aging of the erythrocyte. XIX. Decrease in surface charge density of bovine erythrocytes.

Decrease in electrophoretic mobility of erythrocytes, increase in Km of erythrocyte membrane acetylcholinesterase and decrease in the binding constant of 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonate to erythrocyte membranes demonstrate a decrease in surface charge density of bovine erythrocytes during in vivo aging. This phenomenon seems to be species-specific; it may be due to a diminution of the sialic acid content but may also be contributed by conformational changes of membrane proteins.