EVIDENCE FOR HSP70-LIKE PROTEIN IN THE RBC MEMBRANE OF THE HEREDITARILY ANEMIC BELGRADE LABORATORY (B B) RAT/

We have demonstrated that in normal and bib rat red blood cells (RBCs) hsp70-like protein (heat shock protein 70-like) is localized in the c ytosol and it is exported via exosomes during in vivo reticulocytes ma turation. As we have presumed, in the mutant (b/b) rat, hsp70-like pro tein transfers from cytosol to the RBC membrane. In the normal rat RBC s this happens when those cells are submitted to heat stress condition s. Our study indicates that the presence of hsp70-like protein in the b/b rat RBC plasma membrane is consistent with a primary defect and is not a consequence of life long stress, i.e. hypoxia.