Interaction of silicate dust with erythrocyte ghost membrane: in vitro studies

Composition of the erythrocyte ghost membrane obtained from slate-dust-lysed and hypotonically lysed erythrocytes were compared in vitro. The protein and cholesterol contents were unaltered, whilst phospholipid and glycosamine contents decreased significantly in the slate-dust-lysed preparation of erythrocyte ghost membrane. Na+, K+-ATPase activity remained unchanged, whilst acetylcholinesterase activity was decreased slightly by slate dust treatment. Further, binding of silicic acid, dissolving out of slate dust, was observed with a component of erythrocyte ghost membrane protein having molecular weight around 90 000 daltons. The significance of the findings is discussed.