Effect of copper deficiency on erythrocyte membrane proteins of rats

The effects of copper deficiency on the proteins of rat erythrocyte membranes were assessed by electrophoretic analysis. For 42 d, rats were fed diets containing less than 1 ppm Cu with 35 or 250 ppm Fe or 5 ppm Cu with 35 or 250 ppm Fe. Electrophoresis of erythrocyte membrane proteins indicated a significant increase in the amount of a 170,000-dalton protein in rats fed copper-deficient diets. High dietary iron reduced the amount of the 170,000-dalton protein in erythrocyte membranes from rats in both the copper-deficient and copper-adequate groups. However, feeding high dietary iron to copper-deficient rats did not reduce the amount of the protein to the level found in rats fed the copper-adequate diet containing 35 ppm Fe. Triton X-100 extraction of erythrocyte membranes demonstrated that the 170,000-dalton protein was associated with the membrane cytoskeleton. Thus, copper deficiency possibly alters the cell's mechanical properties and consequently decreases erythrocyte survivability by modifying the membrane cytoskeleton.