Blood, 1973, Vol. 41, No. 6, pp. 833-844.
© 1973 American Society of Hematology, Inc.
The Biconcavity of the Red Cell:
An Analysis of Several Hypotheses
Brian S. Bull 1 and
J. Douglas Brailsford 1
1 Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, and the Department of Medical
Technology, School of Allied Health Professions, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda,
Calif. 92354.
New evidence is presented to show that
the dimple and the annulus of the red cell
are not restricted to specific locations on
the membrane. This eliminates all but one
of the current theories of biconcavity and
supports the view that the membrane has
unusual mechanical properties such that,
although it cannot support surface shear,
it can resist both bending and increase in
total surface area. The feasibility of such
a material is demonstrated by means of a
macromodel. The model represents a class
of structure that until recently has received
little attention but that strongly suggests
long-range protein interaction in the membrane surface.
Submitted on September 13, 1972
Revised on October 16, 1972
Accepted on October 17, 1972
