Studies of the mobility of maleimide spin labels within the erythrocyte membrane.

We have confirmed a method yielding reproducible and reliable spectrometric parameters derived from spin-labeled erythrocyte ghosts using nitroxide derivatives of maleimide compounds. The disorder parameter, W/S, was shown to vary with changes in the structure of the label, the conditions utilized for labeling such as ionic strength and erythrocyte age and the presence of drugs such as alcohol and acetaminophen. The nitroxide spectrum was also found to change with increasing and decreasing temperature in an irreversible manner. These findings should permit increased reliance to be placed on the spin-labeling technique when used to monitor changes in membrane lipid or protein assembly.