A tyrosine kinase associated with the red cell membrane phosphorylates band 3

Phosphorylation of Band 3, the anion transport protein of human erythrocyte membranes, has been studied by incubating isolated ghosts with [gamma-32P]ATP. One of the phosphate-acceptor sites is tyrosine 8 in the NH2-terminal cytoplasmic domain of the Band 3 protein. Seven out of 11 residues in the sequence surrounding the phosphorylated tyrosine are Asp or Glu. It is concluded that the erythrocyte, like other cells, contains a membrane-associated tyrosine kinase which phosphorylates highly anionic peptide acceptor sites.