Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2026

An Improved Method to Isolate Mitochondrial Contact Sites
Published on: June 16, 2023
Interaction of yeast mitochondria with fatty acids and mitochondria-targeted lipophilic cations
E I Sukhanova1, T A Trendeleva, R A Zvyagilskaya
1Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119071, Russia.
Abstract:
The effect of fatty acids and mitochondria-targeted lipophilic cations (SkQ1, SkQ3, MitoQ, and C(12)TPP) on tightly-coupled mitochondria from yeasts Dipodascus (Endomyces) magnusii and Yarrowia lipolytica was investigated. Micromolar concentrations of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were found to decrease the membrane potential, which was recovered almost totally by ATP and BSA. At low, micromolar concentrations, mitochondria-targeted lipophilic cations are "relatively weak, mild uncouplers", at higher concentrations they inhibit respiration in state 3, and at much higher concentrations they induce swelling of mitochondria, possibly due to their prooxidant and detergent action. At very low, not uncoupling concentrations, mitochondria-targeted lipophilic cations profoundly promote (potentiate) the uncoupling effect of fatty acids. It is conceivable that the observed uncoupling effect of lipophilic cations can be, at least partially, due to their interactions with the endogenous pool of fatty acids.
Related Concept Videos
The Inner Mitochondrial Membrane
Mitochondrial Membranes
Mitochondrial Membranes
Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II
ROS generation is regulated and maintained at moderate levels necessary...
Protein Transport into the Inner Mitochondrial Membrane
Transport of mitochondrial precursors across the TIM23 channel is driven by...
Translocation of Proteins into the Mitochondria
Sorting of outer membrane proteins:
Mitochondrial outer membrane proteins are of two types: the transmembrane, beta-barrel porins, and the membrane-anchored, alpha-helical proteins. Beta-barrel porin precursors are translocated by the TOM complex and inserted into the outer mitochondrial membrane by the SAM complex. In contrast,...

