Editing Red blood cell (section)

=== Cellular processes ===
As a result of not containing [[mitochondrion|mitochondria]], red blood cells use none of the oxygen they transport; instead they produce the energy carrier [[Adenosine triphosphate|ATP]] by the [[glycolysis]] of [[glucose]] and [[lactic acid fermentation]] on the resulting [[pyruvate]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Biochemistry|date=2012|publisher=W.H. Freeman|isbn=9781429229364|edition=7th|location=New York|pages=455, 609| vauthors = Berg JM, Tymoczko JL, Stryer L }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Tilton WM, Seaman C, Carriero D, Piomelli S | title = Regulation of glycolysis in the erythrocyte: role of the lactate/pyruvate and NAD/NADH ratios | journal = The Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine | volume = 118 | issue = 2 | pages = 146–152 | date = August 1991 | pmid = 1856577 }}</ref> Furthermore, the [[pentose phosphate pathway]] plays an important role in red blood cells; see [[glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency]] for more information.

As red blood cells contain no nucleus, [[protein biosynthesis]] is currently assumed to be absent in these cells.

Because of the lack of nuclei and organelles, mature red blood cells do not contain [[DNA]] and cannot synthesize any [[RNA]] (although it does contain RNAs),<ref name="Kabanova2009">{{cite journal | vauthors = Kabanova S, Kleinbongard P, Volkmer J, Andrée B, Kelm M, Jax TW | title = Gene expression analysis of human red blood cells | journal = International Journal of Medical Sciences | volume = 6 | issue = 4 | pages = 156–159 | year = 2009 | pmid = 19421340 | pmc = 2677714 | doi = 10.7150/ijms.6.156 }}</ref><ref name="Jain2022">{{cite journal | vauthors = Jain V, Yang WH, Wu J, Roback JD, Gregory SG, Chi JT | title = Single Cell RNA-Seq Analysis of Human Red Cells | journal = Frontiers in Physiology | volume = 13 | page = 828700 | year = 2022 | pmid = 35514346 | pmc = 9065680 | doi = 10.3389/fphys.2022.828700 | doi-access = free }}</ref> and consequently cannot divide and have limited repair capabilities.<ref name=Molecular_biology_of_the_cell>{{cite book|first1=Bruce|last1=Alberts|first2=Alexander|last2= Johnson|first3= Julian |last3=Lewis|first4= Martin|last4= Raff|first5= Keith|last5=Roberts|first6=Peter|last6= Walter |title=Molecular biology of the cell|chapter = Erythropoiesis Depends on the Hormone Erythropoietin|date=2002|publisher=Garland|location=New York|isbn=0-8153-4072-9|edition=4th|chapter-url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK26919/#_A4157_|access-date=30 November 2023}}</ref> The inability to carry out [[protein synthesis]] means that no virus can evolve to target mammalian red blood cells.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/27/science/27viral.html|title=Scientists Explore Ways to Lure Viruses to Their Death| vauthors = Zimmer C |date=27 March 2007|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=26 March 2013}}</ref> However, infection with [[parvovirus]]es (such as human [[parvovirus B19]]) can affect erythroid precursors while they still have DNA, as recognized by the presence of giant [[pronormoblast]]s with viral particles and [[inclusion bodies]], thus temporarily depleting the blood of reticulocytes and causing [[anemia]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Heegaard ED, Brown KE | title = Human parvovirus B19 | journal = Clinical Microbiology Reviews | volume = 15 | issue = 3 | pages = 485–505 | date = July 2002 | pmid = 12097253 | pmc = 118081 | doi = 10.1128/CMR.15.3.485-505.2002 | name-list-style = amp }}</ref>