Particle Simulation of Oxidation Induced Band 3 Clustering in Human Erythrocytes

PLoS Comput Biol. 2015 Jun 5;11(6):e1004210. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004210. eCollection 2015 Jun.

Abstract

Oxidative stress mediated clustering of membrane protein band 3 plays an essential role in the clearance of damaged and aged red blood cells (RBCs) from the circulation. While a number of previous experimental studies have observed changes in band 3 distribution after oxidative treatment, the details of how these clusters are formed and how their properties change under different conditions have remained poorly understood. To address these issues, a framework that enables the simultaneous monitoring of the temporal and spatial changes following oxidation is needed. In this study, we established a novel simulation strategy that incorporates deterministic and stochastic reactions with particle reaction-diffusion processes, to model band 3 cluster formation at single molecule resolution. By integrating a kinetic model of RBC antioxidant metabolism with a model of band 3 diffusion, we developed a model that reproduces the time-dependent changes of glutathione and clustered band 3 levels, as well as band 3 distribution during oxidative treatment, observed in prior studies. We predicted that cluster formation is largely dependent on fast reverse reaction rates, strong affinity between clustering molecules, and irreversible hemichrome binding. We further predicted that under repeated oxidative perturbations, clusters tended to progressively grow and shift towards an irreversible state. Application of our model to simulate oxidation in RBCs with cytoskeletal deficiency also suggested that oxidation leads to more enhanced clustering compared to healthy RBCs. Taken together, our model enables the prediction of band 3 spatio-temporal profiles under various situations, thus providing valuable insights to potentially aid understanding mechanisms for removing senescent and premature RBCs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anion Exchange Protein 1, Erythrocyte / chemistry*
  • Anion Exchange Protein 1, Erythrocyte / metabolism*
  • Computational Biology
  • Erythrocyte Membrane / chemistry*
  • Erythrocyte Membrane / metabolism*
  • Erythrocytes / chemistry
  • Erythrocytes / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Oxidation-Reduction

Substances

  • Anion Exchange Protein 1, Erythrocyte

Grants and funding

This study was supported by research funds from Yamagata Prefecture and Tsuruoka City to Keio University, and by a Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) to TN. MS is the leader supported by JST ERATO, Suematsu Gas Biology Project. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.