Plasma Membrane Vesiculation: A New Technique for Isolation of Plasma Membranes

Monolayer cell cultures of macrophages, monocytes, myoblasts, and density-inhibited and transformed fibroblasts form and release cell surface membrane vesicles following exposure to formaldehyde, related low-molecular-weight aldehydes, and disulfide blocking agents. Vesicles have a unique composition of proteins and lipids. They show enrichment of cholesterol and sphingomyelin content and a seven-to tenfold enrichment of 5'-nucleotidase activity. Vesicles also contain intramembranous particles and show a trilamellar unit membrane and no ultrastructural evidence of contamination with other cytoplasmic organelles. The technique is proposed as a novel method for isolating plasma membrane vesicles from cells in culture.