Isolated mitochondria are considered to be of great importance in understanding basic processes like respiration and metabolism, protein import, membrane fusion, the assembly of protein complexes, interactions between mitochondria and the cytoskeleton, nuclear-encoded mRNAs, and other organelles. Moreover, highly purified mitochondria are required for studying the mitochondrial proteome, phosphoproteome, and lipidome. Protheragen provides a service for isolating mitochondria from animal tissues and also from cells and yeast to perform subsequential assays.
Methods of Mitochondrial Isolation
The isolation of mitochondria has been pivotal in evaluating their biochemical and functional characteristics; various methods are available for obtaining high-quality mitochondrial samples for research purposes.
- Differential Centrifugation
This method requires using a series of differential centrifugation steps for separation purposes on a cell sample homogenate based on their density. In this method, a tissue or cell sample is homogenized first to release cell contents, then progressively centrifuged at different speeds to separate the mitochondria from other cellular parts like the nucleus, cytosol, and membrane fragments.
Fig.1 Differential centrifugation for isolation of mitochondria.
- This method uses density gradients to separate mitochondria which improves their purification by taking advantage of the difference in buoyant densities for different cellular organelles. This technique offers the separation of highly purified mitochondrial fractions with around no contamination, which is ideal for later analyses that need high-purity samples.
Fig. 2 Density gradient centrifugation for isolation of mitochondria.
- Immunoaffinity Chromatography
Leveraging specific antibodies targeting mitochondrial proteins, immunoaffinity chromatography enables the selective isolation of mitochondria from complex cellular mixtures This method offers particular advantages for isolating mitochondria from small tissue samples or challenging biological matrices.
Fig.3 Immunoaffinity chromatography for isolation of mitochondria.
Our Services
In light of recent advances in mitochondria-based research, Protheragen is proud to provide expert, precise and prompt, mitochondrial isolation services. These services allow researchers to derive mitochondrial preparations of various sample types for effective further use. We use cutting-edge techniques and ample experience to guarantee optimal yield and purity of isolated mitochondria to satisfy the varying demands of our clients.
Cell Culture Samples
We accept various cell culture samples, which include adherent and suspension cells from lines or primary cultures. Mitochondria can be extracted from both small-scale and large-scale cultures.
Tissue Samples
Mitochondria can be isolated from different types of tissues like liver, muscle, brain, heart, kidney, etc. Tissue samples can be fresh or frozen, and we can accept different sample sizes.
Blood Samples
Mitochondria can be isolated from whole blood, or other blood components such as peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), or platelets, providing researchers with a convenient source for mitochondrial studies.
Biological Fluids
Perform mitochondrial isolation from biological fluids such as serum, plasma, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), allowing the research of mitochondrial function in various pathological and physiological conditions.
Our Advantages
Protheragen's services for the isolation of mitochondria provide excellent support for researchers studying mitochondrial diseases and related pathologies. If you are interested in our service or have any inquiries, please feel free to contact us. We would be happy to help out with consultations and customize the most suitable solution for your purposes.
