Preparation of an Active Mitochondrial Fraction from the Fruit of Mangifera indica

Abstract

IN connexion with biochemical studies of the effect of growth regulators on the ripening pattern of fruit, it was necessary to isolate a mitochondrial fraction which had respiratory activity with Krebs cycle intermediates as substrates. Considerable difficulty was encountered during the initial attempts at isolation because of the highly acidic nature of the fruit pulp. This problem of low pH has been overcome by using dipotassium phosphate during the isolation procedure for mitochondria from apple¹, or using an alkaline buffer of pH 9.2². This note reports the isolation of a mitochondrial fraction with tricarboxylic acid cycle activity from the mango fruit. All the operations were carried out at 0°–4° C. Preclimacteric fruits stored at 21° C were used.