The protocol includes: organelle isolation, deoxyribonuclease treatment, lysis, deproteinisation and a final DNA purification with sodium dodecyl sulphate and potassium
acetate. The organelle DNA yield is 5–10 micrograms per gram of tissue and the DNA is fully restrictable. The technique is inexpensive and appropriate for the isolation of multiple
samples of organelle DNA from a small amount of tissue. - [Read A Method for Isolation of Chloroplast DNA and Mitochondrial DNA from Sunflower]
Cell fractionation of cellular components using Percoll a synthetic, colloidal solution of polyvinylpyrrolidone coated silica, specifically designed for sedimentation centrifugation. Percoll becomes a simple matter to establish a linear density gradient. Organelle separations are much easier to accomplish on Percoll density gradients than on sucrose gradients. - [Read Equilibrium Density Gradient Percoll Protocol]
Using confocal laser-scanning microscope & GFP fusion proteins in time-lapse imaging to visualize the behavior of organelles and to track membrane-bound transport intermediates that bud off from organelles. Practical issues related to construction & expression of GFP fusion proteins are discussed. Essential for optimizing the brightness and expression levels of GFP fusion proteins so that intracellular membrane-bound structures containing these fusion proteins can be readily visualized. - [Read Imaging of Organelle Membrane Systems and Membrane Traffic in Living Cells]
Several common drugs, their targets, and protocols are described for studying organelle distribution and trafficking. The drugs are readily available from general suppliers, including Sigma, Roche, and Calbiochem. - [Read Membrane Trafficking and Organelle Reagents]
Microtuble/ organelled motility assay using Golgi or ER membranes, 45 uM tubulin, rat liver cytosol, and 20x energy regeneration system. - [Read Microtubule/ organelle Motility Assays]
The physiological reactions of mitochondria and chloroplasts can be reduced to a series of electron transfers, catalyzed by specific enzymes found within the organelles. Thus, we can study the component processes of photosynthesis and respiration by isolating the organelles and measuring specific enzyme activity associated with that organelle. - [Read Photosynthesis and Respiration - Introduction]
Peroxisomes can be purified in self-generated iodixanol gradients in high yield (80-90%) with no detectable contamination from any other organelle. In iodixanol peroxisomes are the densest of the major subcellular organelles (ρ = 1.18-1.20 g/ml) present in the light mitochondrial fraction from
mammalian tissues and cells. - [Read Purification of Peroxisomes in a Self-Generated Gradient]
Peroxisomes can be purified in iodixanol gradients in high yield (80-90%) with no detectable contamination from any other organelle. This is a property unique to iodixanol because the
densities of other organelles, particularly that of mitochondria (approx ρ = 1.14 g/ml) and endoplasmic reticulum (approx ρ = 1.13 g/ml) are much lower than that of peroxisomes (approx ρ = 1.18 g/ml). - [Read Purification of Peroxisomes using a Density Barrier in a Swinging-Bucket Rotor]
Background and methods to study plant transport. Includes new methods to study protein trafficking in plant cells, includes: Identification of protein sorting pathways in non purified samples; Localization of organelle proteins by isotype tagging/isotype-coded affinity tag; Coupling of chemical genomics and proteomics; Top down mass spectrometry; Compartment-specific markers to aid in the purification of organelles. - [Read Understanding Protein Trafficking in Plant Cells Through Proteomics]