Abstract
Packets of helical filaments have been observed in the outer compartment of occasional mitochondria in many cell types in a variety of animals. The composition and function of these intramitochondrial helical filaments (IMHF) are unknown. IMHF were induced in a hepatic mitochondria by administration of ethanol in the drinking water of rats. Hepatic mitochondria were isolated and ruptured by osmotic shock, releasing the IMHF. To purify these structures, the IMHF-containing supernatant was further fractionated by ammonium sulfate precipitation, a 50-60% solution of this reagent being the most effective in this regard. Isolated IMHF were examined by electron microscopy and were analyzed by SDS-PAGE. Isolated IMHF closely resembled their in situ counterparts: they had a right-handed helical structure with a 16 nm pitch. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed that they contained three polypeptides with molecular weight of 135, 98, and 53 kD, respectively. These observations will stand as a baseline for comparisons with IMHF that occur naturally or that are induced in other cell types by other kinds of experimental manipulation.
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