Solubilization of human red cell membranes by lysolecithins of various chain lengths.

Red cells and membranes prepared from them were treated with graded amounts of palmitoyl, myristoyl and lauroyl lysolecithins. There was no release of phospholipids from the intact red cells in the absence of hemolysis. The solubilization pattern of lipid and protein from the red cell membranes by lysolecithins varies with their chain length.