A hitchhiker's guide to mitochondrial quantification

Mitochondrion. 2021 Jul:59:216-224. doi: 10.1016/j.mito.2021.06.005. Epub 2021 Jun 6.

Abstract

The variety of available mitochondrial quantification tools makes it difficult to select the most reliable and accurate quantification tool. Here, we performed elaborate analyses on five open source ImageJ tools. Excessive clustering of mitochondrial structures was observed in four tools, caused by the global thresholding applied by these tools. The Mitochondrial Analyzer, which uses adaptive thresholding, outperformed the other examined tools, with accurate structural segregation and identification. Additionally, we showed that the Mitochondrial Analyzer successfully identifies mitochondrial morphology differences. Based on the observed performance, we consider the Mitochondrial Analyzer the best open source tool for mitochondrial network morphology quantification.

Keywords: Image analysis; ImageJ; Mitochondria; Mitochondrial dynamics; Mitochondrial quantification.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dynamins / genetics
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases / genetics
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques / methods*
  • Gene Regulatory Networks*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Mitochondria / genetics
  • Mitochondria / ultrastructure*
  • Mitochondrial Dynamics
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / genetics
  • Software

Substances

  • FIS1 protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Mff protein, human
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases
  • MFN2 protein, human
  • OPA1 protein, human
  • DNM1L protein, human
  • Dynamins