Topography of the external surface of the human red blood cell membrane studied with a nonpenetrating label, [125I]diazodiiodosulfanilic acid.

The topography of the external surface of the human red cell membrane has been studied using an impermeant radioactive probe, [125I]diazodiiodosulfanilic acid, which binds covalently to protein groups of the membrane following reaction with intact cells. The pattern of labeling was assessed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis followed by sequential analysis of single gels for carbohydrates (by staining with the periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reagent), for proteins (by staining with Coomassie blue), and for radioactivity (by counting gels sliced in 2-mm segments). The radioactive probe bound to membrane polypeptides with apparent molecular weights of 94,200, 58,100, and 46,500 (Peaks A, B, and C, respectively). Peak A co-migrated with a small periodic acid-Schiff-positive band and protein Band 3 (nomenclature of Steck) (Steck, T.L. (1974)J. Cell Biol. 62: 1-19). Peak B migrated with protein Band(s) 4.5 slightly ahead of the major membrane glycoprotein (PAS-1). Peak C migrated like glycoprotein PAS-2 and protein Band 5, the actin-like, water-soluble membrane protein. In contrast to lactoperoxidase iodination and a number of other probes, [125I]diazodiiodosulfanilic acid reacted minimally with the major membrane glycoprotein, glycophorin. When it was reacted with isolated ghosts, all molecular weight classes of polypeptides were labeled. Treatment of labeled cells with neuraminidase or trypsin altered the glycoprotein staining pattern, but not the radioactive peaks. On the other hand, Pronase eliminated the Mr=94,200 radioactive peak, diminished the other two radioactive peaks, and profoundly changed the glycoprotein and protein staining patterns. Treatment of the membranes of labeled cells in a low ionic strength alkaline medium did not alter radioactive peaks and demonstrated that Peak C differed from the actin-like membrane protein. A nonionic detergent, Triton X-100, solubilized all radioactive components. The studies have defined the binding of [125I]diazodiiodosulfanilic acid to external proteins of the human red cell membrane. Its pattern of reaction differs quantitatively and qualitatively from other commonly used reagents, and it provides a useful additional vectorial probe for the study of membrane topography. Its reactions provide further evidence of the organizational complexity of the red cell membrane and emphasize the fact that interpretation of information derived from the use of membrane probes must take into account the differences resulting from the properties of the probing reagents themselves.