Undifferentiated and differentiated L6 myoblast plasma membranes. I: Comparison of the morphology of plasma membrane vesiculation and the factors influencing the vesiculation process.

Monolayer cultures of a variety of cell lines can be induced to shed plasma membrane vesicles by exposure to 25 mM formaldehyde--2 mM dithiothreitol. An analysis of the process of membrane shedding can provide a method to probe the general characteristics of the plasma membrane in different cell populations. We have, therefore, analyzed membrane shedding in L6 myoblasts at different stages of differentiation. The results show that the morphology of membrane shedding is comparable in undifferentiated or differentiated L6 myoblasts, as are the factors that influence the process of membrane shedding. L6 myoblasts at various stages of differentiation have similar requirements for metabolic energy, physiological temperature, pH, and monovalent and divalent cations.