Isolated mitochondria are invaluable for investigating fundamental processes, such as mitochondrial respiration, metabolic activity, protein import, membrane fusion, and protein complex assembly, as well as interactions between mitochondria and the cytoskeleton, nuclear-encoded mRNAs, and other organelles. Furthermore, the preparation of highly purified mitochondria is crucial for studying the mitochondrial proteome, phosphoproteome, and lipidome. Protheragen provides services for isolating mitochondria from animal tissues, cells and yeast to facilitate subsequent 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
The classical approach involves a series of differential centrifugation steps to separate cellular components based on their density. The process commences with the homogenization of the tissue or cell sample to release cellular contents, followed by sequential centrifugation at varying speeds for the isolation of mitochondria from other cellular constituents such as nuclei, cytosol, and membrane fragments.
Fig.1 Differential centrifugation for isolation of mitochondria.
- Density Gradient Centrifugation
By utilizing density gradients, this method offers an enhanced purification of mitochondria by exploiting the differences in buoyant densities of cellular organelles. This technique yields highly purified mitochondrial fractions with minimal contamination, making it suitable for downstream analyses that require 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
Protheragen offers a highly efficient and reliable Mitochondrial Isolation Service that enables researchers to obtain high-quality mitochondrial preparations from various sample types for downstream applications. With our state-of-the-art techniques and expertise, we ensure optimal yield and purity of isolated mitochondria to meet the diverse needs of our clients.
Cell Culture Samples
We accept a wide range of cell culture samples, including adherent and suspension cells from various cell lines or primary cultures. Mitochondria can be isolated from both small-scale and large-scale cultures.
Tissue Samples
We can isolate mitochondria from different types of tissues, such as liver, muscle, brain, heart, kidney, and more. Tissue samples can be fresh or frozen, and we can accommodate varying sample sizes.
Blood Samples
Mitochondria can be isolated from whole blood or specific blood components, such as peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) or platelets, providing researchers with a convenient source for mitochondrial studies.
Biological Fluids
We offer mitochondrial isolation from biological fluids like serum, plasma, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), enabling researchers to investigate mitochondrial function in different physiological contexts.
Our Advantages
Our mitochondrial isolation service provides a robust platform for researchers investigating mitochondrial diseases and related pathologies. If you are interested in our service or have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will be delighted to offer you consulting services and customize the optimal solution for your needs.
