Plasma membrane vesiculation in 3T3 and SV3T3 cells. I. Morphological and biochemical characterization

3T3 and SV3T3 mouse embryo cells and a variety of other monolayer cell lines can be induced to form and shed plasma membrane vesicles by exposure to sulphydryl blocking agents including formaldehyde and N-ethyl malemide. Morphological studies show that multiple vesicles are formed and released from individual cells and that the vesicle membrane is continuous with the plasma membrane of the cell. Vesicles measure from o.1 to 15 micrometer in diameter and are free of detectable contamination with cytoplasmic membranes and organelles. Vesicles also show a 10-fold enrichment in the plasma membrane marker enzyme 5'-nucleotidase and are devoid of detectable NADH-cytochrome C reductase and succinic dehydrogenase activity which are marker enzymes for endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, respectively. Vesicles have a high cholesterol: phospholipid ratio and show enrichment in sphingomyelin content. They contain receptors for Con A and WGA, approximately 20 size class polypeptides and intramembranous particles. These results suggest that vesicles are derived from and have the general characteristics of plasma membranes.