Comparison between the size of granular vesicles in intact cells and vesicles obtained by fragmentation of biomembranes.

Preparations of biomembranes, consisting of membrane vesicles, were analyzed with the analytical ultracentrifuge. Under certain conditions depending on the speed of rotation and the temperature, a sedimentation profile was observed that was highly characteristic for membranous material. From the sedimentation coefficients obtained, we calculated particle weights for the various well-defined membrane components. In certain types of preparations the particle weights of two adjacent components differed on average by a factor of 2. When vesicles obtained by fragmentation of biomembranes were compared with the granular vesicles present in intact cells, the accordance in diameters was striking. This may indicate that the size of vesicles is determined by purely physical factors.