Figure 7.

Proteomics analysis of stored RBC membranes: “repair or destroy” group of proteins. Variation in the membrane levels of selected chaperones (A) and of 20S/26S proteasome subunits (B) in βThal⁺ and control RBCs throughout storage. Inserts: pooled analysis of membrane samples at weekly intervals. (*) p < 0.05 βThal⁺ vs. controls; (**) p < 0.05 and fold > 1.25 βThal⁺ vs. controls. Representative immunoblots showing variation in the levels of heat shock protein-70 (HSP70) and of ubiquitinylated proteins at early, middle, and late storage are also shown (n = 7 per group). Protein 4.1R was used as internal loading control.