Investigation of (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase phosphoprotein formation in erythrocyte membranes of patients with cystic fibrosis.

The (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase present per mg of protein in erythrocyte membranes of controls and patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) was determined by estimation of the levels of its phosphoprotein. In the presence of 10 mM free Ca2+, which inhibits phosphoprotein decomposition, significantly less phosphoprotein intermediate, ECaP, was found in erythrocyte membranes from CF patients than in age- and sex-matched controls; this correlated with a significant decrease in (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity. These observations indicate a decrease in the number of functional (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase molecules in erythrocyte membranes from CF patients or an alteration in either the structure of the pump protein or the composition of its environment.