Mitochondria from embryonic tissues of the chick. 1. Preparation, characterization and some enzymic properties

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Abstract
Differential centrifuging of homogenates of whole 5-day chick embryos has been shown by distribution and other studies to give rise to cell fractions similar to those obtained with adult tissues, namely nuclei and unbroken tissue, mitochondria, microsomes and a soluble fraction. The adenosine triphosphatase activity of the mitochondria, isolated in several different media, was stimulated by 2:4-dinitrophenol; this suggests that the mitochondria were not seriously damaged. The absorption bands of the cytochrome components in the embryo mitochondria corresponded quite closely to those observed in liver mitochondria. "Acetate-activating enzyme" activity was studied in extracts of the mitochondrial fraction from the livers of young chicks and of 16-day chick enbryos.