Vacuole Formation in Human Erythrocyte Ghosts 1

Summary

Human erythrocyte ghost endocytic vacuole formation requires Mg²⁺ and ATP and occurs optimally in the presence of 0.5—1.0 mM Ca²⁺ with larger amounts of Ca²⁺ producing inhibition of vacuole formation. ADP can substitute for ATP as substrate but other nucleotides are much poorer substitutes. EDTA cannot produce ghost endocytic vacuoles. Therefore, in ghost vacuole formation, Ca²⁺ chelation seems less important and relatively specific energization by ATP or ADP is more important.