Membrane vesicles from newborn rat skeletal muscle retain stereospecific D-glucose transport properties

A novel procedure has been developed to prepare membrane vesicles from newborn rat skeletal muscle which retain a stereospecific D-glucose transport system characteristic of intact muscle. The glucose transport system found in these rat muscle membrane vesicles exhibits counterflow, inhibition by cytochalasin B and phloridzin, and kinetics consistent with a carrier-mediated process. We conclude that this procedure will allow the rapid preparation of membrane vesicles retaining a stable glucose transport activity essential for eventual purification of the transporter.