What color should the mitochondrial pellet be? - I got a white pellet after subcellular fractionation (Nov/21/2008 )

I don't know why but I always thought mitochondria have dark color, but the pellet that I got today after subcellular fractionation is very white.

I know there are chemicals and enzymes to clearly distinguish between different cellular fractions, but I don't have them and can't buy them now.

I used HT29 human colon cancer cells. usually the cell pellet itself has a yellowish color.

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I agree with you, the pellet of mitochondria should have a yellowish to brownish color; whiteness may result from precipitated proteins or polynucleotides; lipids are also often white but not to pellet;

think in terms of denaturizing conditions during preparation...

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thanks Bearer,

I just sent an e-mail to the author of the paper that I'm using, he says the mitochondrial pellet must be brown-red. God damn it. perhaps I have pelleted the floating nuclei in supernatant.

Afshin Samali et al. 1999, EMBO

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