Simple and rapid purification of inside-out vesicles from human erythrocytes

The preparation of inside-out vesicles from human erythrocytes requires their separation from contaminating right-side-out vesicles. We have taken advantage of the fact that there are no glycoproteins on the internal side of the erythrocyte membrane; therefore, inside-out vesicles do not interact with the lectin, concanavalin A, while right-side-out vesicles do interact. A concanavalin A-cellulose affinity matrix has been utilized to separate easily inside-out vesicles with a purity comparable to those prepared by prolonged centrifugation.