Patent ID: 7407800

Claim:
A method for isolating intact mitochondria from cells comprising the steps of: lysing, the cells and then recovering the mitochondria in intact form, wherein, prior to lysing, the cells are swelled in a hypotonic buffer at a physiological pH and lysing is achieved with a detergent in a buffer at a physiological pH, wherein the detergent is selected from the group consisting of 3-[(3-cholamidapropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate, 3-[(3-cholamidapropyl)dimethylammonio]-2-hydroxy-1-propanesulfonate, and combinations thereof, and wherein the concentration of the detergent in the lysing solution effects cell lysis without damaging the mitochondria, thus resulting in intact mitochondria, and wherein the detergent concentration is from about 0.05% w/v to about 0.2% w/v.