An Improved Method to Isolate Mitochondrial Contact Sites

Summary

Mitochondrial contact sites are protein complexes that interact with mitochondrial inner and outer membrane proteins. These sites are essential for the communication between the mitochondrial membranes and, thus, between the cytosol and the mitochondrial matrix. Here, we describe a method to identify candidates qualifying for this specific class of proteins.

Abstract

Mitochondria are present in virtually all eukaryotic cells and perform essential functions that go far beyond energy production, for instance, the synthesis of iron-sulfur clusters, lipids, or proteins, Ca²⁺ buffering, and the induction of apoptosis. Likewise, mitochondrial dysfunction results in severe human diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and neurodegeneration. In order to perform these functions, mitochondria have to communicate with the rest of the cell across their envelope, which consists of two membranes. Therefore, these two membranes have to interact constantly. Proteinaceous contact sites between the mitochondrial inner and outer membranes are essential in this respect. So far, several contact sites have been identified. In the method described here, Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondria are used to isolate contact sites and, thus, identify candidates that qualify for contact site proteins. We used this method to identify the mitochondrial contact site and cristae organizing system (MICOS) complex, one of the major contact site-forming complexes in the mitochondrial inner membrane, which is conserved from yeast to humans. Recently, we further improved this method to identify a novel contact site consisting of Cqd1 and the Por1-Om14 complex.

Introduction

Mitochondria perform a variety of different functions in eukaryotes, with the most well-known being the production of ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. Other functions include the production of iron-sulfur clusters, lipid synthesis, and in higher eukaryotes, Ca²⁺ signaling, and the induction of apoptosis^1,2,3,4. These functions are inseparably linked to their complex ultrastructure.

The mitochondrial ultrastructure was first described by electron microscopy⁵. It was shown th....

Protocol

1. Buffers and stock solutions

1. Make a 1 M 3-morpholinopropane-1-sulfonic acid (MOPS) solution in deionized water, pH 7.4. Store at 4 °C.
2. Prepare 500 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) in deionized water, pH 8.0. Store at room temperature.
3. Prepare 2.4 M sorbitol in deionized water. Store at room temperature after autoclaving.
4. Prepare 2.5 M sucrose in deionized water. Store at room temperature after autoclaving.
5. Prepare 200 mM phenylmethylsulf.......

Discussion

Mitochondrial subfractionation is a complicated experiment with several highly complex steps. Therefore, we aimed to further improve and, to a certain degree, simplify our established method³². Here, the challenges were the requirement for complicated and highly specialized equipment, which are often individual constructions, and the enormous time and energy consumption. To this end, we tried to remove the pumps and individual constructions used for casting and harvesting the linear gradient and c.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
13.2 mL, Open-Top Thinwall Ultra-Clear Tube, 14 x 89mm	Beckman Instruments, Germany	344059
50 mL, Open-Top Thickwall Polycarbonate Open-Top Tube, 29 x 104mm	Beckman Instruments, Germany	363647
A-25.50 Fixed-Angle Rotor- Aluminum, 8 x 50 mL, 25,000 rpm, 75,600 x g	Beckman Instruments, Germany	363055
Abbe refractometer	Zeiss, Germany		discontinued, any pipet controller will suffice
accu-jet pro Pipet Controller	Brandtech, USA	BR26320	discontinued, any pipet controller will suffice
Beaker 1000 mL	DWK Life Science, Germany	C118.1
Branson  Digital Sonifier W-250 D	Branson Ultrasonics, USA	FIS15-338-125
Branson Ultrasonic 3mm TAPERED MICROTIP	Branson Ultrasonics, USA	101-148-062
Branson Ultrasonics 200- and 400-Watt Sonifiers: Rosette Cooling Cell	Branson Ultrasonics, USA	15-338-70
Centrifuge Avanti JXN-26	Beckman Instruments, Germany	B37912
Centrifuge Optima XPN-100 ultra	Beckman Instruments, Germany	8043-30-0031
cOmplete Proteaseinhibtor-Cocktail	Roche, Switzerland	11697498001
D-Sorbit	Roth, Germany	6213
EDTA (Ethylendiamin-tetraacetic acid disodium salt dihydrate)	Roth, Germany	8043
Erlenmeyer flask, 100 mL	Roth, Germany	X747.1
graduated pipette, Kl. B, 25:0, 0.1	Hirschmann, Germany	1180170
graduated pipette, Kl. B, 5:0, 0.05	Hirschmann, Germany	1180153
ice bath	neoLab, Germany	S12651
Magnetic stirrer RCT basic	IKA-Werke GmbH, Germany	Z645060GB-1EA
MOPS (3-(N-Morpholino)propanesulphonic acid)	Gerbu, Germany	1081
MyPipetman Select P1000	Gilson, USA	FP10006S
MyPipetman Select P20	Gilson, USA	FP10003S
MyPipetman Select P200	Gilson, USA	FP10005S
Omnifix 1 mL	Braun, Germany	4022495251879
Phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF)	Serva, Germany	32395.03
STERICAN cannula 21 Gx4 4/5 0.8x120 mm	Braun, Germany	4022495052414
stirring bar, 15 mm	VWR, USA	442-0366
Sucrose	Merck, Germany	S8501
SW 41 Ti Swinging-Bucket Rotor	Beckman Instruments, Germany	331362
Test tubes	Eppendorf, Germany	3810X
Tissue grinders, Potter-Elvehjem type, 2 mL glass vessel	VWR, USA	432-0200
Tissue grinders, Potter-Elvehjem type, 2 mL plunger with serrated tip	VWR, USA	432-0212
Trichloroacetic acid (TCA)	Sigma Aldrich, Germany	33731	discontinued, any TCA will suffice (CAS: 73-03-9)
TRIS	Roth, Germany	4855