Degradation of Spectrin and band 3 protein

Oxygen free radicals generated during radiation injury damage human erythrocyte membrane proteins including spectrin and band 3 protein. Results show an appreciable degree of spectrin and band 3 protein loss of about 55-65% due to crosslinking, and proteolysis when sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis carried out on erythrocyte ghosts. Oxidative damage to membrane proteins lead to degradation of its cytoskeletal components.