Effect of lipid matrix and cytoskeleton proteins on Ca2+-activated K+ channels in erythrocytes of alcoholic and II type diabetes mellitus patients.

We studied the effect of changes in erythrocyte volume and irreversible thermal denaturation of cytoskeleton proteins and lipid matrix on activity of Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels in erythrocytes of alcoholic and patients with II type diabetes mellitus. Changes in Ca(2+)-dependent potassium permeability of erythrocyte membrane in alcoholic patients and patients with II type diabetes mellitus are related to modification of cytoskeleton, rather than to changes in lipid matrix.