Pig Kidney Cells with mTagGFP2 and Mito
Pig kidney epithelial cells' (LLC-PK1 line) cellular products include plasminogen activator - material that stimulates fibrinolysis. Recently, plasminogen activator has been incorporated in drugs used in thrombosis therapies because it facilitates the closure of small blood clots. The cells also manufacture large amounts of cytokeratin.
Mitochondria are eukaryotic organelles often described as the powerhouses of the cell. Mitochondria are the primary producers of cellular energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). In addition to their best known function in the cell, mitochondria play a role in a number of other cellular processes, such as cell growth, differentiation, signaling, and apoptosis. Each individual mitochondrion is roughly oblong in shape and ranges in length from about 1 to 10 micrometers. Mitochondria are often found in living cells organized together into groups, traveling chains, or other formations.
Mitochondria were visualized in the pig kidney epithelial cells featured in this digital video sequence with mTagGFP2. A monomeric green fluorescent protein, mTagGFP2 was developed from a mutant of the Aequorea macrodactyla GFP-like fluorescent protein. Excitation and emission of mTagGFP2 peak at 483 and 506 nanometers, respectively.