[Mechanism of acceleration of acid hemolysis of the E-form of serum albumin].

The influence of human and bovine serum albumin on the proton-mediated lysis of human, rabbit and sheep erythrocytes was studied. An essential acceleration of hemolysis (2-7-fold) by the action of albumin was observed only at pH values below 4.0, i.e. at values at which the transition of albumin to the E conformation occurs. It was shown in the experiments with fatty-acid-free albumin and the protein loaded by palmitate that the accelerating effect of albumin was due to the hemolytic action of fatty acids released from the protein. As a result of the proton potentiation of detergent-dependent hemolysis, fatty acids released from E-albumin become more potent hemolytic agents.