Single-cell electrical lysis of erythrocytes detects deficiencies in the cytoskeletal protein network

The network of erythrocyte cytoskeletal proteins significantly influences erythrocyte physical and biological properties. Here we show that the kinetics of erythrocyte lysis during exposure to an electric field is sensitively correlated with defects in the cytoskeletal network. Histograms compiled from single-cell electrical lysis data show characteristics of erythrocyte populations that are deficient in a specific cytoskeletal protein, revealing the presence of cell subpopulations.