Effect of Ep475 on changes induced by calcium activated neutral protease on erythrocyte membrane.

Increase in cytosolic calcium leads to activation of calcium activated neutral protease (CANP). CANP is known to cause many membrane abnormalities that aid erythrocyte destruction. An epoxy compound Ep475 causes the reversal of such changes induced by calcium and CANP. In absence of Ep475, CANP caused reduction in free sulfhydryl groups and glycoprotein content of the membrane to 61, and 50% respectively, compared to untreated membranes. Calcium ATPase and membrane associated CANP were increased 3 and 1.4 times respectively. Significant reversal of these changes by Ep475 suggests a possible role of this compound in reversing the calcium dependent alterations in RBC including the action of CANP.