FIGURE 1.

Mitochondrial mass evaluation in ST14A cells using FACS analysis. Cells were transfected with vector carrying RCAN1-1L fragment and with null vector (control). A, example of FACS analysis. Mitochondria were labeled with MitoTracker Green (Molecular Probes, Inc.), and signals were measured using the FACS analyzer (as described under “Experimental Procedures”). Mitochondrial mass was evaluated by comparison of the mean fluorescence signals between cells transfected with null vector and vector carrying RCAN1-1L. B, summary of mitochondrial mass FACS analysis. Dividing and differentiating cells were analyzed at the indicated time periods after transfection. Mean values were converted to arbitrary units (A.U.) to make the results from different experiments directly comparable with each other. Fluorescence values in samples transfected with null construct (control) were set as 1.0. Results (means ± S.E. (error bars)) represent measurements from three independent experiments. At the 6 h time point, mitochondrial mass was increased, whereas at all other time points it was significantly decreased, in cells overexpressing RCAN1-1L as compared with controls, as evaluated by Student's t test (p < 0.05).