The electrophoretic behaviour of mitochondria from kidney and liver of rats

Abstract

The electrophoretic mobility values for mitochondria prepared from rat kidney and liver measured in 0.125 [image]-potassium chloride-0-02 [image]-tris, pH 7.4, are: -0.78 (S.E.M.[plus or minus]0-02)[mu]/sec./v/cm. (29 experiments) and - 1.06(S.E.M[plus or minus]0-01)[mu]/sec./v/cm. (21 experiments) respectively. These mobility values are unaffected by washing and spontaneous swelling at 25[degree], indicating a stable electrokinetic surface. The mobility of rat-kidney mitochondria is unaffected by thyroxine-induced swelling, or by the state of hydration of the rat. pH-mobility curves show similar surface ionogenic groups for kidney and liver mitochondria; their isoelectric points are pH 3.9 and pH 4.4 respectively.