Preparation and partial characterization of amino acid transporting brush border membrane vesicles from the larval midgut of the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar).

Brush border membrane vesicles were prepared from both fresh and frozen midguts of Lymantria dispar larvae by Mg/EGTA precipitation and differential centrifugation. The vesicles were enriched 10 to 13-fold, relative to the homogenate, in aminopeptidase and gamma-glutamyltransferase activity. No significant difference was found in enzyme enrichment of vesicles prepared from fresh and frozen midguts. Inwardly directed potassium salt gradients resulted in transient accumulation of leucine and lysine but not glutamic acid by the vesicles.