Incorporation of inositol into intact red blood cells. II. Enhancement of gas transport in inositol hexaphosphate-loaded red blood cells.

The gas-transport function of red blood cells which have incorporated inositol hexaphosphate is significantly improved by fusion with effector-loaded lipid vesicles. "Right-shifts" of the O2-binding curves of inositol hexaphosphate-loaded red blood cells with half-saturation pressures at 37 degrees C up to 98 mmHg are observed. The transformation of 56% of the intracellular haemoglobin into the low affinity state corresponds to an optimum increase of the O2-release capacity of 270%. The CO2 transport is also correspondingly enhanced. The treated red blood cells show no inositol hexaphosphate depletion during a reasonable time.