Rapid flow cytofluorometric analysis of functional mitochondrial status in Yarrowia lipolytica yeast: a reasonable model to study human cell bioenergetic responses

We developed a rapid method to study Yarrowia lipolytica single yeast cell mitochondrial responses based on flow cytometry and potential-sensitive ratiometric fluorochrome JC-1. The proposed model has several advantages as it allows to measure mitochondrial membrane potential in intact cells (without isolation of mitochondria), has an internal positive control (uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation CCCP), and produces a normalized measurement of the transmembrane mitochondrial potential, taking into account the heterogeneity of cell size and number of mitochondria in a single cell. The similarity of the mitochondrial complex I structure in mammals and Yarrowia lipolytica opens prospects for the model implementation in search for human bioenergetic response modifiers.

Yarrowia lipolytica, JC-1, mitochondrial membrane potential, Yarrowia lipolytica, flow cytometry, JC-1, bioenergetic response