[Structural changes in erythrocyte membranes during cooling studied by a spin probe method].

Peculiarities of structural changes in erythrocyte membranes during freezing (from -20 degrees to -50 degrees) were studied by electron paramagnetic resonance method using spin-labelled derivative of stearic acid-5-doxylstearate. It was established that membranes underwent a number of structural reconstructions due to the temperature decrease and water freezing-out. Differences were found in temperature dependences that characterize lipid ordering during probe insertion into membranes of native erythrocytes, white ghosts, and liposomes from total lipids of erythrocyte membranes. The data obtained indicate the impairment in the structure of lipid components and lipid-protein interactions in erythrocyte membranes during cooling.