LOCALIZATION OF MITOCHONDRIAL ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATASE ACTIVITY IN CULTURED HUMAN CELLS

Abstract

Adenosine triphosphatase activity has been localized by light microscopy in the mitochondria of four different types of cultured cells using the Wachstein-Meisel lead method after brief fixation in formol-calcium. The resolutions of the method permits the study of mitochondrial size, form, number and distributions in these cultured cells. Electron microscopy shows enzyme reaction product within the mitochondrion but not on the outer mitochondrial membrane. Reaction product is also localized to the plasma membrane and its infoldings.