Organization of multiple nucleoids and DNA molecules in mitochondria of a human cell.
Mitochondrial nucleoids (mt-nucleoids) of the A2780 line of cultured human cells were stained with DAPI and observed using an epifluorescence microscope. The mt-nucleoids appeared to be organized compactly in mitochondria. Numbers of mt-nucleoids per mitochondrion ranged from 1 to more than 10, and 70% were "multinucleated" mitochondria. Intensities of fluorescence of mt-nucleoids in each mitochondrion were measured by a video-intensified microscope system (VIM system) and copy numbers of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in each mitochondria were determined. The copy numbers of mtDNA per mitochondrion ranged from 1 to 15, and the average was 4.6. Because the cells had 107 mitochondria on average, the copy number of mtDNA per cell was estimated to be about 500.
Satoh
M
M
University of Tsukuba, Institute of Biological Sciences, Ibaraki, Japan.
Kuroiwa
T
T
D002460:Cell Line; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial