The erythrocyte membrane is the cell membrane that surrounds a red blood cell (erythrocyte), forming a selective boundary between the cell's interior and the surrounding plasma. It is composed of a lipid bilayer embedded with proteins and carbohydrates, and it is supported on its inner surface by a flexible protein …
The erythrocyte membrane is the cell membrane that surrounds a red blood cell (erythrocyte), forming a selective boundary between the cell's interior and the surrounding plasma. It is composed of a lipid bilayer embedded with proteins and carbohydrates, and it is supported on its inner surface by a flexible protein cytoskeleton. This architecture gives the red blood cell its characteristic biconcave shape, strength, and remarkable deformability, allowing it to squeeze through narrow capillaries while withstanding repeated mechanical stress. The membrane regulates the movement of ions, water, gases, and other molecules into and out of the cell, helping maintain hydration, ionic balance, and the proper environment for oxygen and carbon dioxide transport. Membrane lipids and proteins also carry the antigens that define blood groups and participate in cell signaling and recognition. Because its composition and integrity are central to red cell function, the erythrocyte membrane is studied in the context of lipid biology, membrane biochemistry, and disorders that alter red cell shape and survival. Within the scope of this journal's focus on lipids, the erythrocyte membrane illustrates how lipid composition shapes membrane structure and physiology. This page gathers peer-reviewed, open-access research relevant to the erythrocyte membrane and membrane lipid science.
2 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 2 articles above have been cited 22 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Erythrocyte Membrane, linking to each citing work.