Specific Modification, Isolation, and Partial Characterization of an Erythrocyte Membrane Protein

A comparison of proteins S-thiolated by glutathione to those arylated by acetaminophen

This study was designed to evaluate whether the same proteins that irreversibly bind reactive electrophiles of drugs also bind glutathione (GSH) under oxidative conditions. Specifically, proteins that can be arylated by acetaminophen were compared to those that form glutathione-protein mixed disulfides (PSSG) after incubation with diamide. Data are presented which suggest that both GSH and acetaminophen bind to a subset of N-ethylmaleimide (NEM)-reactive protein thiols. To evaluate the pattern of proteins that bind GSH, PSSGs were formed in vitro by incubating cytosolic proteins with GSH and diamide. A sensitive procedure was developed in which PSSGs were first reduced with 0.1 mM dithiothreitol (DTT), and the newly exposed protein thiols were labeled with either [3H]NEM (for quantitative analysis) or with fluorescein-5-maleimide (for visual detection). Acetaminophen binding was achieved by incubating cytosolic proteins in vitro with the reactive acetaminophen metabolite, N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine (NAPQI). Proteins from both assays were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and transferred to nitrocellulose for Western blot analysis. Acetaminophen binding was detected by immunoblotting with an affinity-purified antibody against acetaminophen, and PSSGs were visualized using anti-fluorescein antibodies. In both instances, binding to proteins was observed to be selective. A comparison of the proteins modified by GSH binding with those that bind acetaminophen indicates that the major cytosolic acetaminophen-binding protein of 58 kDa may also be modified by glutathiolation under oxidative conditions.

The role of membrane protein sulfhydryl groups in hydrogen peroxide-mediated membrane damage in human erythrocytes

The formation of spectrin-hemoglobin complex following treatment of red cells with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has previously been shown to be associated with alterations in cell shape, decreased membrane deformability and increased recognition of modified cells by anti-IgM immunoglobulin in a phagocytic assay by monocytes. Prior treatment with carbon monoxide completely inhibited the H2O2-associated membrane changes, indicating a role for oxidized hemoglobin in the complex formation. Also, in a cell-free system, blockage of sulfhydryl (SH) groups on purified spectrin by N-ethylmaleimide significantly reduced the complex formation, suggesting a role for SH groups of spectrin in crosslinking process. The present study was undertaken to examine the role of SH blockade by N-ethylmaleimide on intact red cells undergoing oxidative damage. Pretreatment of erythrocytes with N-ethylmaleimide at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 0.2 mM resulted in decreased lipid peroxidation and spectrin hemoglobin crosslinking. Moreover, pretreatment with N-ethylmaleimide resulted in less marked alterations in cell shape and membrane deformability as well as reduced recognition of peroxidized cells by antiglobulin serum. N-Ethylmaleimide treatment had no effect on methemoglobin formation. Studies with 14C-labeled N-ethylmaleimide showed that over 50% of N-ethylmaleimide was incorporated into spectrin. Pretreatment of cells with higher concentrations of N-ethylmaleimide (over 0.2 mM) was associated with membrane dysfunction independent of H2O2. These results imply that blocking of reactive SH groups leads to reduced interaction of spectrin with oxidized globin. These data, along with our prior observations, indicate that SH groups on spectrin play an important role in hemoglobin oxidation-induced formation of spectrin-hemoglobin complex and the resultant deleterious effects on membrane properties.

Purification and properties of human cataractous lens glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase has been shown to occur in three different forms in the human adult cataractous lens: a membrane bound form (M) and at least two cytosolic isozymes: I1 and I2. Similar Km's for substrate, cofactor and HAsO4 were established for each form and all three forms, to differing degree, require a reduced sulfhydryl group for maximum activity. A variety of phosphonucleosides (ATP, ADP, AMP and 3' 5' cyclic AMP) as well as NADH inhibit enzyme activity. Inhibition by ATP is non-competitive whereas cyclic AMP and NADH compete for the cofactor binding site. Chloride ion stimulates and inhibits enzyme activity at low and high concentrations respectively.

Increased adsorption of cytoplasmic proteins to the erythrocyte membrane in ATP-depleted normal and pyruvate kinase-deficient mature cells and reticulocytes

How the metabolic defect of pyruvate kinase deficiency (PK(-)) accelerates red blood cell (RBC) destruction is not established, but may be related to RBC membrane abnormalities associated with altered cellular metabolism. Furthermore, it has been shown that PK(-) reticulocytes are especially sensitive to metabolic depletion. Therefore, we compared the membranes of reticulocyte-rich PK(-) RBC, both fresh and ATP depleted, with membranes of fresh and ATP depleted normal mature RBC and reticulocytes. There was no difference between the specific gravity (SG) of the membranes of normal mature RBC (SG 1.152 +/- 0.004) and membranes of reticulocyte-rich RBC from several anemias (SG 1.150 +/- 0.002). However, membranes from fresh, reticulocyte-rich PK(-) RBC were dense with SG of 1.165 +/- 0.004 which correlated with a corresponding increase of protein to lipid phosphorus ratio of 66 +/- 8 micrograms protein/micrograms lipid phosphorus (normal 52 +/- 6 micrograms/micrograms). The membrane density of PK(-) RBC was further increased when the PK(-) RBC ATP was depleted by anaerobic incubation (SG 1.188 +/- 0.004) or cyanide inhibition (SG 1.182 +/- 0.001). When ATP was depleted in normal RBC and in non-PK(-) reticulocytes, corresponding increases in membrane SG occurred. A distinctive 50,000 MW peptide is adsorbed from the cytoplasm to the membranes of reticulocytes (both normal and PK(-) when these cells were depleted of ATP. The increased membrane adsorption of cytoplasmic proteins by PK(-) RBC was not associated with increased RBC calcium uptake, sulfhydryl oxidation, or altered membrane protein phosphorylation. All the observed abnormalities of PK(-) RBC membranes could by reproduced by ATP depletion of reticulocyte-enriched non-PK(-) RBC.

Simplification of the procedure for determining erythrocyte glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity

The in vitro assay procedure for erythrocyte glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PD) entails the suspension of cells in a hypotonic hemolyzing solution followed by a freeze-thaw step, presumably to elute the enzyme from the membrane phase. Data outlined in this report indicate that the freezing and thawing of red cells suspended in hypotonic solution does not cause significant elution of this enzyme from the membrane and that the accessibility of the enzyme for the in vitro procedure for measurement can be simplified by omitting the freeze-thaw step.

Effect of hyperthermia and ionizing radiation on the erythrocyte membrane

Spin-label studies of the effects of hyperthermia on the erythrocyte membrane revealed a decrease in the fluidity of lipids and changes in the state of membrane proteins. The rate of haemolysis in iso-osmotic glycerol solution was increased. Changes of most of the parameters studied when plotted in Arrhenius coordinates revealed a discontinuity (critical hyperthermic transition in the membrane) between 46 and 50 degrees C. Studies of the combined action of ionizing radiation (100 Gy) and hyperthermia (43 degrees C) showed the same direction of changes for (Na-K-Mg)-ATPase activity and spectra of membrane-bound maleimide spin label for both agents, but the additivity of changes depended on the parameter studied.

The effects of glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide on the erythrocyte membrane. A spin label study

A nitroxide spin label probe technique was applied to study the interaction between glutaraldehyde or osmium tetroxide (OsO4) amd the membranes of horse erythrocytes, ghosts and liposomes prepared from erythrocyte lipids. Two major conclusions have been established: (1) Reaction of the fixation reagents with the membrane is selective. OsO4 reacts predominantly with lipids and glutaraldehyde with membrane proteins. (2) The lipid-protein interactions change after pretreatment by OsO4 or glutaraldehyde.

The action of organic mercurials on the erythrocyte membrane

The solubilisation of proteins from erythrocyte membranes by treatment with organic mercurials has been studied with different species. The marked solubilisation previously reported for human membranes does not seem to be a general phenomenon. All of the other species examined showed less than 50% of the solubilisation shown by human membranes. The protein-solubilising effect seems to be dependent on hydrophobic mercury derivatives carrying a net negative charge. Uncharged compounds like phenylmercuric acetate blocked the effect, although N-ethylmaleimide and iodoacetamide did not. With the aid of radioactively labelled compounds, and of atomic absorption spectrophotometry, the proteins reactive towards the mercurials were identified. The major integral protein, band 3, was the major protein capable of binding the mercurial. Reaction with the mercurial appears to disrupt interaction of band 3 with bands 2.1 and 4.2, allowing dissociation of the cytoskeleton from the membrane. In addition, band 4.9 was also found to react with the mercurials, possibly resulting in disruption of the cytoskeleton.

Topology of membrane sulfhydryl groups in the human erythrocyte. Demonstration of a non-reactive population in intrinsic proteins

A major fraction of the protein sulfhydryl groups of human erythrocyte membranes can be oxidized to disulfide bonds by the lipid soluble reagent, diamide, and the hydrophilic reagent, tetrathionate. Furthermore, the same fraction also reacts with the monofunctional reagent, N-ethylmaleimide. About 20% of the SH groups, however, do not react with any of these agents even upon prolonged treatment and increased concentrations. These 'non-reacting' SH groups were now localized by a procedure involving blockage of the accessible SH groups by non-labeled N-ethylmaleimide or by diamide, subsequent isolation and solubilization of the membranes in SDS and labelling of the now accessible, residual SH groups with N-[ethyl-2-3H]ethylmaleimide. The distribution of the radioactivity over the peptide fractions shows that the non-reacting SH groups are mainly localized in the intrinsic proteins, while essentially all of the SH groups of the extrinsic protein, spectrin, are reactive. After solubilization of the membranes with Triton X-100 the non-reacting SH groups became reactive towards N-ethylmaleimide. It is proposed that lack of reaction of SH groups in the native membranes is due to their localization within the hydrophobic core of the membrane.

Dynamic changes of red cell membrane thiol groups followed by bimane fluorescent labeling

Monobromobimane labels red cell membrane protein thiol groups; bands exhibit fluorescence after sodium dodecyl sulfate acrylamide gel electrophoresis and correspond to almost all of those staining with Coomassie blue. The response of membrane protein thiol groups to oxidative challenge and the dynamics of recovery of the thiol groups may be followed. Diminished labeling is found after oxidation with diamide, with both intrachain and interchain disulfide bond formation demonstrated by sodium dodecyl sulfate acrylamide gel electrophoresis. Regeneration of thiol groups under physiological conditions (incubation with glucose) after a moderate degree of diamide oxidation is shown to be complete (with respect to thiol group content and degree and distribution of bimane label) in normal human red blood cell membranes. Even after oxidation of almost half of the membrane protein thio groups (maximum degree of oxidation achieved), regeneration of thiol groups is almost complete; a minor fraction resides in the form of disulfide-linked high molecular weight proteins (demonstrated by the electrophoretic profile) which may be reduced completely with dithiothreitol. Bimane fluorescent labeling provides a convenient and sensitive method for following membrane thiol group status under physiological conditions.

Membrane asymmetry. A survey and critical appraisal of the methodology. I. Methods for assessing the asymmetric orientation and distribution of proteins

This and the companion article are aimed at surveying the methods used for the study of membrane asymmetry. The techniques employed for the assessment of the asymmetric distribution and orientation of membrane proteins are reviewed in this article, whereas those pertaining to the unequal distribution of lipids are detailed in the companion paper. The use of immunological techniques and lectins, functions of proteins and their perturbations, chemical reagents, enzymatic isotopic labeling and enzymatic cleavage of membrane proteins and physical techniques are discussed and illustrated using recent examples of their application. Whenever appropriate, problems involving crypticity and non-availability or non-reactivity of functional sites, relevant chemical functions or protein fragments to appropriate ligands, reagents or modifying enzymes are envisaged and possible modification of the exposure of proteins during preparation of ghosts and other drawbacks are discussed, the use of different techniques and control experiments in conjunction is recommended for a more realistic assessment of the distribution and orientation of proteins.

Effect of adenosine on concanavalin A agglutination of human erythrocytes

We have attempted to correlate the functional activity of protein 3 with its activity as a receptor for concanavalin A. The concanavalin A agglutination of human erythrocytes is enhanced by adenosine. It varies with time of storage of the blood and is dependent on the concentration of adenosine in the medium. Adenine and/or inosine, which increase cellular ATP, do not substitute for adenosine in enhancing agglutination, and adenosine enhances agglutination of fresh erythrocytes with normal levels of ATP. Thus, it appears that cellular ATP levels are not directly involved in modulation of concanavalin A agglutination by adenosine. Trypsin, which hydrolyzes most of the exposed proteins of the cell surface but does not alter protein 3, enhances concanavalin A agglutination without altering the relative response to the cell to adenosine. Glucose, as well as the glucose transport inhibitors maltose and cellobiose, inhibits agglutination. High concentrations of adenosine reverse the inhibition by glucose and enhance agglutination in the presence of maltose and cellobiose. Treatment of erythrocytes with 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2-disulfonic acid disodium salt, which selectively inhibits the anion transport function of protein 3, substantially inhibits adenosine-supported concanavalin A agglutination. Treatment of erythrocytes with iodoacetate under conditions in which it selectively reacts with glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase inhibits agglutination. Adenosine protects this dehydrogenase in erythrocytes from inactivation by iodoacetate, over the same concentration range in which it enhances agglutination.

Externally disposed polypeptides of chick synaptosomal plasma membrane. Identification with pyridoxal phosphate and sodium borotritide

The topographical distribution of polypeptides in chick brain synaptic plasma membrane was studied using pyridoxal phosphate-sodium borotritide labeling. Labeling of intact synaptosomes was restricted to the external surface only by very careful adjustment of the reaction conditions. Fourteen major external polypeptides were labeled. These had apparent molecular weights of 210 000, 160 000, 130 000, 100 000, 92 000, 82 000, 60 000, 52 000, 42 000, 34 000, 29 000, 26 000, 24 000, and 19 000. Most of the label was incorporated into the 42 000, 29 000 and 26 000 dalton polypeptides.

The binding of CTAB, a cationic surfactant, to the rat erythrocyte membrane

The adsorption of CTAB (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) to the rat erythrocyte membrane was studied by determining the electrophoretic mobility of erythrocytes treated with CTAB and by SDS polyacrylamide electrophoresis of membrane proteins from erythrocytes treated with 14C-CTAB. At low concentrations of CTAB there was only a small reduction in the electrophoretic mobility of the erythrocytes. At lytic concentrations the electrophoretic mobility of the erythrocytes was markedly reduced. Alterations at the cell surface were found to be a more likely reason for the reduction in the electrophoretic mobility than interactions between the surfactant and charged groups at the cell surface. Very small amounts of radioactivity were found to be associated with the protein and sialoglycoprotein bands of the polyacrylamide gels. It is suggested that the adsorption of CTAB to the rat erythrocyte membrane does not involve electrostatic interactions between the surfactant and negatively charged groups of the sialoglycoproteins and that membrane proteins do not play a major role in the lytic events.

Spectrin as a stabilizer of the phospholipid asymmetry in the human erythrocyte membrane

After treatment of intact human erythrocytes with SH-oxidizing agents (e.g. tetrathionate and diamide) phospholipase A2 cleaves approx. 30% of the phosphatidylserine and 50% of the phosphatidylethanolamine without causing hemolysis (Haest, C.W.M. and Deuticke, B (1976) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 436, 353--365). These phospholipids are scarcely hydrolysed in fresh erythrocytes and are assumed to be located in the inner lipid layer of the membrane (Verkleij, A.J., Zwaal, R.F.A., Roelofsen, B., Comfurius, P., Kastelijn, D. and van Deenen, L.L.M. (1973) Biochim. Biophys Acta 323, 178--193). The enhancement of the phospholipid cleavage is now shown to be accompanied by a 50% decrease of the membrane SH-groups and a cross-linking of spectrin, located at the inner surface of the membrane, to oligomers of less than 10(6) dalton. Blocking approx. 10% of the membrane SH groups with N-ethylmaleimide suppresses both the polymerization of spectrin and the enhancement of the phospholipid cleavage. N-Ethylmaleimide, under these conditions, reacts with three SH groups per molecule of spectrin, 0.7 SH groups per major intrinsic 100 000 dalton protein (band 3) and 1.1 SH groups per molecule of an extrinsic protein of 72 000 daltons (band 4.2). Blocking studies with iodoacetamide demonstrate that the SH groups of the 100 000-dalton protein are not involved in the effects of the SH-oxidizing agents. It is suggested that a release of constraints imposed by spectrin enables phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine to move from the inner to the outer lipid layer of the erythrocyte membrane and that spectrin, in the native erythrocyte, stabilizes the orientation of these phospholipids to the inner surface of the membrane.

The preparation and use of pyridoxal [32P]phosphate as a labeling reagent for proteins on the outer surface of membranes

Pyridoxal [32P] phosphate was prepared using [gamma-32P] ATP, pyridoxal, and pyridoxine kinase purified from Escherichia coli B. The pyridoxal [32P] phosphate obtained had a specific activity of at least 1 Ci/mmol. This reagent was used to label intact influenza virus, red blood cells, and both normal and transformed chick embryo fibroblasts. The cell or virus to be labeled was incubated with pyridoxal [32P] phosphate. The Schiff base formed between pyridoxal [32P] phosphate and protein amino groups was reduced with NaBH4. The distribution of pyridoxal [32P] phosphate in cell membrane or virus envelope proteins was visualized by autoradiography of the proteins separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The labeling of the proteins of both influenza and chick cells appeared to be limited exclusively to those on the external surface of the virus or plasma membrane. With intact red blood cells the major portion of the probe was bound by external proteins, but a small amount of label was found associated with the internal proteins spectrin and hemoglobin.

Photodynamic modification of proteins in human red blood cell membranes, induced by protoporphyrin

Illumination of erythrocytes or erythrocyte membranes with visible light in the presence of protoporphyrin causes photodynamic damage of the cell membrane. This process is reflected a.o. by a mutilated ultrastructure and changes of the physical properties of the membrane proteins. Illumination in the presence of protoporphyrin causes association of membrane proteins, leading to blurring of the protein bands in electropheretograms, disappearance of bands and the appearance of protein aggregates on top of the gels. The formation of large protein aggregates is also indicated by Sephadex gel filtration of the solubilized membrane proteins. In kinetic studies it appeared that spectrin and the bands 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 6 are most susceptible and that band 3 is least susceptible to this cross-linking reaction. Experimental results indicate that this cross-linking is caused by direct photooxidation of membrane proteins. Peroxidation of unsaturated fatty acids is not involved in the process. The significance of this process for studies on membrane structure and on photodynamic membrane damage is discussed.

Partial reversible inactivation of enzymes due to binding to the human erythrocyte membrane

Hypotonic human erythrocyte ghosts, devoid of the original glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase content of the red cell, bind added glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases, isolated from human erythrocytes, rabbit and pig muscle, as well as rabbit muscle aldolase. There are only slight differences in the affinities towards the various glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases. On the other hand, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases are bound much stronger than aldolase; in an equimolar mixture the former can prevent the binding of the latter, or replace previously bound aldolase at the membrane surface. Binding is always accompanied by the partial inactivation of enzymes, which can be reverted by desorption. Unwashed ghosts rich in hemoglobin seem to have a more pronounced inactivating effect on bound glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. In isotonic media ghosts, whether white or unwashed, reseal and do not interact with the enzymes.

Distribution of free sulfhydryl and disulfide groups among platelet membrane proteins

Reactive sulfhydryl and disulfide groups were identified in platelet membrane proteins resolved by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polycrylamide gel electrophoresis. Platelet membranes treated with N-ethyl(1-14C)maleimide, phenyl(203Hg)mercuric acetate and p-chloro(203Hg)mercuribenzoate showed similar patterns of distribution of sulfhydryl groups among the sodium dodecyl sulfate-solubilized membrane proteins. Four major and two minor polypeptides ranging in molecular weight from greater than 200 000 to 20 000 were found to have reactive SH groups. Reduction of membrane proteins by sulfite coupled with subsequent mercaptide formation of the resultant monothiols led to the identification of four polypeptides with disulfide bonds. Reaction of platelet membranes with 14C-labeled 5,5'-dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) resulted changes in the distribution profile of the solubilized membrane proteins suggestive of a polymerization process dependent upon, 5,5'-dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoic acid)-induced intermolecular disulfide interchange.

Biogenesis of erythrocyte membrane proteins. In vivo studies in anemic rabbits

To study the process of red cell membrane protein synthesis we have followed the time course of [3-H]leucine appearance in total protein and individual peptides of the erythrocyte membrane following injection of the amino acid into phenylhydrazine-anemic rabbits. Multiple peripheral blood samples were taken from single animals over a 5-week period. Erythrocyte membrane proteins were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecylsulfate and dithiothreitol; incorporation of radioactivity was determined by gel slicing and liquid scintillation spectrometry. Appearance of [3-H]leucine in circulating erythrocytes reached a peak at 1-3 days, with a steady decline thereafter. The radioactive amino acid appeared first in the lowest molecular weight peptides and last in the largest peptides; at the earliest time point (8 h), little radioactivity was observed in any of the four largest peptides present in the membranes (bands A, 1, 2 and 3). Certain smaller peptides (bands 4, 5 and 9) were the predominant species labeled at this time. By 24 h all peptides showed significant incorporation. With maturation of the red cells, label largely disappeared from bands A, 9 and several smaller peptides; this was confirmed by finding that the peptides are virtually absent from mature circulating erythrocytes. These data are interpreted as showing that red cell membrane proteins are synthesized asynchronously during the life cycle of the erythrocyte; the largest peptides are made predominantly in the earlier marrow stages of development, while certain of the smaller peptides are still being synthesized in the reticulocyte stage. Several membrane proteins appear to be specific to the reticulocyte and are lost during the process of cell maturation in the circulation.

Species variability in the modification of erythrocyte surface proteins by enzymatic probes

Bovine and equine erythrocytes have been studied by three different surface modification techniques to investigate the accessibility of the surface components to the external medium. Lactoperoxidase labeling of equine erythrocytes results in a significant labeling of only one membrane component, a 100 000-mol.wt polypeptide corresponding to the membrane-spanning Component III of human erythrocytes. The major sialoglycoprotein of the equine erythrocyte is not labeled. This is in contradistinction to the situation for human and bovine cells, where both components are labeled. The equine membrane sialoglycoprotein is also not markedly affected by pronase, chymotrypsin or trypsin treatment of whole cells under the treatment conditions used, although it can be cleaved by pronase in isolated membranes. Experiments with the isolated glycoprotein show that its cleavage by trypsin is quite selective, whereas cleavage by pronase and chymotrypsin is much more extensive. Labelling of bovine red cells by galactose oxidase treatment followed by reduction with 3H-labeled borohydride yields radioactivity in only one major peak, that corresponding increase in labeling. Equine erythrocytes don not show significant labeling by this technique unless a neuraminidase pretreatment has been performed. Then only the major glycoprotein is labeled. Thus the equine glycoprotein is apparently inaccessible to the cell surface by standard surface modification methods, although it is clearly a surface component. These experiments point out some of the limitations of surface labeling and proteolysis methods in probing the accessibility of membrane components. The results suggest that apparent inaccessibility of the equine glycoprotein is due partially to its structure and partially to its localization in the membrane.

Membrane structure: some general principles

The arrangement of lipids and some proteins in the erythrocyte membrane has been discussed. The conclusions from this are listed here as a set of general guidelines for the structure of membranes of higher organisms: some of these rules may be wrong. But at this stage it seems useful to sharpen our thoughts in this way and thereby focus attention on various specific points. 1) The basis of a membrane is a lipid bilayer with (i) choline phospholipids and glycolipids in the external half and (ii) amino (and possibly some choline) phospholipids in the cytoplasmic half. There is effectively no lipid exchange across the bilayer (unless enzymatically catalyzed) (68). 2) Some proteins extend across the bilayer. Where this is so, they will in general have carbohydrate on their surface remote from the cytoplasm. This carbohydrate may prevent the protein diffusing out of the membrane into the cytoplasm; it acts as a lock on the protein. 3) Just as lipids do not flip-flop, proteins do not rotate across the membrane. Lateral motion or rotation of lipids and proteins in the plane of the bilayer may be expected. 4) Most membrane protein is associated with the inner, cytoplasmic, urface of the membrane. Proteins are not usually associated exclusively with the outer half of the lipid bilayer. 5) Membrane proteins are a special class of cytoplasmic proteins, not of secreted proteins.