[Form of red and white human erythrocyte ghosts and the ultrastructure of the internal perimembrane layer].

The shape of red and white ghosts and the ultrastructure of the inner perimembrane layers have been studied. The cytoplasmic perimembrane layer is proved to have a fibrous lattice-like structure. The ghosts with a great amount of hemoglobin have ellipsoid or deformed circular shapes. White, hemoglobin-free ghosts have an irregular shape. After their resealing with a following incubation in an isoosmostic (300 imomole) succarose solution they assume a shape of narrow arcous profiles containing fibrous lattice-like material. The organization of this material is variable and depends on the degree of ghost hydration. It is proposed that this spectrin-like material may account for the stability of the long-range membrane organization.