Electron microscopic observation of the aggregation of membrane proteins in human erythrocyte by melittin

Human erythrocytes and erythrocyte ghost membranes were treated with native and modified melittins, up to 250 nmol/mg membrane protein. Native melittin induced aggregation of intramembranous particles (IMPs, observed by freeze-fracture electron microscopy), and created large, smooth bilayer areas devoid of IMP. The degree of IMP aggregation increased with increasing concentration of melittin, corresponding to hemolysis results. Membrane ghosts were slightly more susceptible to IMP aggregation than membranes on intact cells. The potency of inducing IMP aggregation was ranked in the order of: native melittin greater than acetylated melittin greater than succinylated melittin = 0. The concentration range of melittin which caused IMP aggregation corresponded to that which caused the immobilization of band 3 proteins as detected by measurement of rotational mobility by transient dichroism (Dufton et al. (1984) Eur. J. Biophys. 11, 17-24). Because both IMP aggregation and band 3 protein immobilization decreased with decreasing positive charge of the melittins used, the nature of melittin-protein interaction is likely to be at least in part electrostatic in the case of human erythrocyte membranes. Possible roles of IMP aggregation and the consequent creation of 'exposed' bilayer areas in the cytotoxic reaction of melittins are discussed.