Sensitivity to radiations of Mg2+ and (Ca2++Mg2+) ATPase activities associated with erythrocyte membrane fragments

Treatment of disrupted erythrocyte membranes with ionizing radiation induces a partial oxidation of -SH groups (as expected from reported data) and a loss of membrane phospholipids as confirmed by the decrease of membrane amino groups. The resulting disturbance of the membrane assembly strongly affects the membrane bound divalent cation-dependent ATPase activities, possibly by causing the formation of a dead-end enzyme complex unable to complete the ATP splitting cycle. (Auth.)