Mitochondria and Metabolism in Honeybee Flight Muscle

 

Alexander F. Motten

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2001, Volume 22

Abstract

Honeybees provide a convenient source of insect flight muscle, a tissue especially rich in mitochondria. These organelles are easily isolated using simple laboratory equipment and their metabolic activity readily measured colorimetrically with the dye 2,6-dichloroindophenol, which changes from blue to colorless when reduced by the electrons produced during respiration. This system is well-suited for studying cell fractionation, experimental isolation of the major subcellular components responsible for glycolysis and the Krebs cycle, and the role of oxygen in respiration. It can also be used for simple enzymology experiments using the Krebs cycle enzyme succinic dehydrogenase.

Keywords:  enzyme, cellular respiration, flight muscle, honeybee, mitochondria

Clemson University (2000)