A procedure for isolating stable mitochondria from rat liver and kidney

✍ Scribed by Eugene C. Weinbach

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1961
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 646 KB
• Volume: 2
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0003-2697
• DOI: 10.1016/0003-2697(61)90006-9

✦ Synopsis

In previous communications (1, 2) we have presented evidence that rat liver mitochondria, when isolated under rigorously controlled conditions, retain their capacity for oxidative phosphorylation after treatments generally considered to be highly detrimental. In particular, a study was described of the unusual stability of oxidative phosphorylation in liver mitochondria that were stored at 4" for prolonged periods. As this stability could not be related to any part,icular factor, we now believe that it is the meticulous attention given to the minutiae of the isolation procedure that yields stable mitochondria. Although most of the procedures for isolating mitochondria currently in use are essentially those first described by Hogeboom, Schneider, and Pallade (3), t.here are wide variations in the interpretation and implementation of the original scheme. The present paper describes in detail a procedure that has consistently yielded liver and kidney preparations of high stability in our laboratory. ESPERIMENT.41.