Isolation of mitochondria-associated membranes and mitochondria from animal tissues and cells

MR Wieckowski, C Giorgi, M Lebiedzinska… - Nature protocols, 2009 - nature.com
MR Wieckowski, C Giorgi, M Lebiedzinska, J Duszynski, P Pinton
Nature protocols, 2009nature.com
Many cellular processes require the proper cooperation between mitochondria and the
endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Several recent works show that their functional interactions rely
on dynamic structural contacts between both organelles. Such contacts, called mitochondria-
associated membranes (MAMs), are crucial for the synthesis and intracellular transport of
phospholipids, as well as for intracellular Ca2+ signaling and for the determination of
mitochondrial structure. Although several techniques are available to isolate mitochondria …
Abstract
Many cellular processes require the proper cooperation between mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Several recent works show that their functional interactions rely on dynamic structural contacts between both organelles. Such contacts, called mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs), are crucial for the synthesis and intracellular transport of phospholipids, as well as for intracellular Ca2+ signaling and for the determination of mitochondrial structure. Although several techniques are available to isolate mitochondria, only few are specifically tuned to the isolation of MAM, containing unique regions of ER membranes attached to the outer mitochondrial membrane and mitochondria without contamination from other organelles (i.e., pure mitochondria). Here we provide optimized protocols to isolate these fractions from tissues and cells. These procedures require 4–5 h and can be easily modified and adapted to different tissues and cell types.
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