Lead and calcium transport in human erythrocyte

Abstract

In this paper we report the lead (Pb) and calcium (Ca) uptake by erythrocyte ghosts. In both cases the transport was carried out by a passive transport system with two kinetic components (Michaelis-Menten and Hill). Pb and Ca were capable of inhibiting the transport of the other metal in a non-competitive way. Under hyperpolarization, the uptakes of Ca and Pb were enhanced and the Michaelis-Menten component prevailed. Both Ca and Pb uptakes were inhibited by N-ethyl-maleimide to the same extent. These results indicate that Pb and Ca share the same permeability pathway in human erythrocytes and that this transport system is electrogenic.