4.2 and band 7, and a decrease in spectrin. However, these alterations
did not affect RBC membrane structure, as suggested by the
unchanged ratios between membrane proteins. Only at day 35 a
new unbalance in RBC membrane protein composition occurred,
with an increase in band 3 and a decrease in ankyrin and band 6.
These changes in membrane protein composition triggered significant
changes in membrane structure, as suggested by the significantly
altered protein ratios of protein 4.1/band 3, protein 4.2/band
3, ankyrin/band 3 and spectrin/ankyrin. No statistically significant
differences were found in MBH and in band 3 profile (table 2) during
the storage period.