Use of plasma membrane vesicles.

A summary of current methodologies employed to obtain and characterize epithelial plasma membrane vesicles is presented. Particular emphasis is placed on techniques to evaluate such parameters as homogeneity, tightness, orientation, and the percentage of active vesicles in a given vesicular population. Examples of isotopic, osmotic, and various probe techniques useful for quantitation of transport events and associated electrical phenomena are illustrated. Finally, the unique problems intrinsic to purification and reconstitution of transport proteins are briefly discussed.