Influence of surface charge and transmembrane potential on rubidium-86 efflux of human red blood cells.

The dependence of the rate constant of Rb+ efflux on extracellular cation concentration was measured. At low ionic strengths Rb+ efflux increased strongly. Permeability coefficients were calculated from the rate constants measured, using the Goldman flux equation, with and without making allowance for surface potentials. Only when allowance was made for surface potentials and the associated differences between ion concentrations in the bulk solutions and at the membrane surface, the permeability coefficient remained constant. Best agreement between experimental data and theoretically calculated values was obtained when an interior surface potential of -110 mV was assumed. When the surface charge of erythrocytes is reduced by neuraminidase, the rate constants for Rb+ efflux decreased, indicating a significant influence of surface potential.