[Study of the mitochondria movement using videomicroscopy]

A stable cell line CV-1 was obtained for vital observation of the transport of mitochondria in animals cells, which express a fragment of the resident protein of mitochondria marked by yellow fluorescent protein. The parameters and conditions of movement of the mitochondria in living cells were established using fluorescence videomicroscopy. Under the normal conditions, only a small part of mitochondria (ca. 7%) was transported over significant distances, while others were in the state of relative rest. The effective transport of mitochondria strictly depended on the dynamic properties of microtubules. Incubation of cell in a serum-free medium suppressed active transport of mitochondria, thus suggesting its dependence on certain, not yet determined environmental factors.