Immunological and electrophoretic analysis of rat liver mitochondria and other cellular fractions

The combination of electrophoretic and immunological analysis has demonstrated a powerful method for the study of subcellular components. Rat liver mitochondria seem to be composed of at least 12 components, either anodic or cathodic. Detergents have been used to dissolve mitochondria. The electrophoretic behaviour of complexes among such agents and mitochondria proteins is described. The treatment of mitochondria with deoxycholate between 0.1-0.5 per cent final concentration showed that some antigens are progressively brought into solution by such treatment, while others are firmly bound to the mitochondrial membranes. Among the other subcellular fractions, the microsomes exhibit at least 7 components and the cell sap 14. The deoxycholate treatment of microsomes is effective, as in the case of mitochondria, to fractionate soluble antigens.