Intracellular heterogeneity in mitochondrial membrane potentials revealed by a J-aggregate-forming lipophilic cation JC-1

  1. S T Smiley,
  2. M Reers,
  3. C Mottola-Hartshorn,
  4. M Lin,
  5. A Chen,
  6. T W Smith,
  7. G D Steele, Jr, and
  8. L B Chen
  1. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA.

Abstract

By using a potential-dependent J-aggregate-forming delocalized lipophilic cation, 5,5',6,6'-tetrachloro-1,1',3,3'-tetraethylbenzimidazolocarbocyanine++ + iodide (JC-1), we find that membrane potentials across mitochondria in a living cell can be heterogeneous. Remarkably, even within a long contiguous mitochondrion, regional heterogeneity in membrane potentials appears to be possible.

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  1. PNAS May 1, 1991 vol. 88 no. 9 3671-3675
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