Biosynthesis of erythrocyte membrane protein band 3 in DMSO-induced Friend erythroleukemia cells.

The major integral membrane protein of red blood cells, the mouse equivalent of human band 3, was purified and used to raise a specfic antiserum. The murine protein resembles its human counterpart in several of its properties, including susceptibility to digestion by chymotrypsin added to intact cells and an ability to bind to concanavalin A. The synthesis of 35S-labeled band 3 was detected in Friend erythroleukemia cells treated with DMSO by immuneprecipitation followed by SDS gel electrophoresis and fluorography. Induction with DMSO led to a greater than tenfold increase in the synthesis of band 3 and maximal synthesis was reached 3 to 4 days after the beginning of induction.