Mitochondrial Filamentation: Some Methods of Isolation and Assay

Abstract

Working transiently but recurrently, during more than 40 years we managed to achieve the isolation of cellular mitochondria by differential centrifugation with less mechanical, thermal and chemical trauma; mostly from rodents' livers, kidneys and brains, and principally at moments of deep rest. The mitochondria present new substructures: filaments, cones and veils. Filamented mitochondria have different rates of oxidative phosphorylation loss, adenosine triphosphatase activity and glycolysis compartmentalization. These preliminary findings could pave the way towards a more physiological consideration of mitochondria and represent important steps forward for an understanding of the nature, cause and treatment of very serious diseases among which we can count cancer and neural degeneration. The initial considerations of a deeper understanding of planetary life oxygen and physiological and metabolic death are also in sight.