Human K562 leukemic cells exhibit several erythroid properties, including synthesis and expression of the major red blood cell sialoglycoprotein, glycophorin. This has led us to ask if these cells express a functional anion transport system analogous to that which is associated with the other major erythrocyte glycoprotein, band 3. The chloride-36 exchange flux in K562 cells is less than 0.6% of that which would be expected in mature erythrocytes under similar conditions. Unlike red blood cells, K562 cells do not exhibit a high chloride-sulfate selectivity, and various agents that inhibit red blood cell chloride exchange are all much less effective in K562 cells. On the basis of these flux measurements, K562 cells probably contain less than 600 fully functional red blood cell-like band 3 molecules per cell, in contrast to about a million molecules in the mature red blood cell. The possible-existence of greatly altered band 3 molecules with a reduced turnover rate and/or a reduced affinity for chloride and for various inhibitors is unlikely but cannot be completely excluded. Anion transport was also measured in K562 cells that had been induced to increase hemoglobin synthesis by various chemical agents. Even under these conditions, chloride fluxes indicated no substantial increase in the number of functional anion transport sites or their chloride transport rate.
