Inhibition of erythrocyte phosphate transport by high pressures.

Pressures of 200-1000 atmospheres (20-100 MPa) are found to decrease significantly the amount of phosphate (H32PO4-2)transported into the rabbit erythrocyte under otherwise physiological conditions. Such compression does not cause irreversible morphological changes or result in membrane disruption. The findings are interpreted in terms of a lipid phase transition induced by the high pressure, which is propagated to the associated phosphate transport system by a physical mechanism.