Erythrocyte membrane cholesterol levels and their effects on membrane proteins

The susceptibility of the band 3 protein of the erythrocyte membrane to proteolytic digestion at either surface of the membrane was not altered when the membrane cholesterol level was increased by 65-103%. Cross-linking of the major membrane proteins by o-phenanthroline . Cu, glutaraldehyde, dimethylsuberimidate and dimethyladipimidate was also unaffected.