mitochondria was performed using a mitochondria isolation kit according to ” the manufacturer’s protocol and previous descriptions. Briefly, pre- and seven days post-adipocyte differentiation 3T3-L1 cells in 100 mm dishes were harvested using trypsinization. A reagent-based method was used for cell homogenization allowing multiple samples to be processed concurrently. To obtain a more purified fraction of mitochondria with more than 50% reduction of lysosomal and peroxisomal contaminants, the last step for pelleting mitochondria was performed using centrifugation for ” 15 minutes at 3,0006 g rather than at standard 12,0006 g. Reactive oxygen species detection ROS were detected with the cell-permeable, peroxide-sensitive fluorophore, 29,79-dichlorofluorescein diacetate . In brief, 3T3-L1 cells in a 6-well plate were incubated in 0.2 mmol/L DCF-DA at 37uC for 30 minutes. Cells were then washed with prewarmed PBS twice and allowed to recover in growth medium for 20 minutes at 37uC in an atmosphere of 5% CO2. Afterwards, the cells were trypsinized, washed, resuspended in PBS and analyzed by running ExpressPlus assay on a flow cytometer, Guava PCA-96 AFP. To ensure that DCF-DA was detecting hydrogen peroxide, cells were preincubated with 250 U/ml cell-permeable polyethylene glycol -catalase at 37uC for two hours. Detection of mitochondrial DNA content Total DNA in 3T3-L1 cells was isolated with the SNDX-275 chemical information DNeasy DNA isolation kit. The DNA levels of mitochondrial Complex I and nuclear 18S rRNA were determined by real-time PCR quantification. The relative mtDNA content was evaluated by the ratio of DNA levels between mitochondrial Complex I and nuclear 18S rRNA as previously described. Detection of mitochondrial complex I activity The activity of complex I”3303961
” was determined in whole cell lysates of 3T3-L1 with the Mitochondrial Dipstick Assay kit according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Twenty-five micrograms of proteins were allowed to wick up through the dipstick membrane. The dipsticks, with complex I immunocaptured, were transferred into the complex I enzyme substrate buffer. The enzyme activities were then calculated by measuring the optical density of precipitation, colorimetric enzyme reaction products, using the NIH ImageJ software. Standard curves were created from multiple determinations of complex activities in cultured 3T3-L1 cell extracts. Transmission electron microscopy Three days post transfection of siRNA, 3T3-L1 cells were fixed with 2.5% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 mol/L sodium cacodylate buffer for two hours at 4uC, and post-fixed with 1% osmium tetroxide in 0.1 mol/L sodium cacodylate buffer for one hour at 4uC. The specimens were then incubated in 0.5% aqueous uranyl acetate for 2 hours at room temperature for en bloc staining, and in a graded 
series of ethanol for dehydration. Thereafter, the specimens were embedded in Embed 812 resin. Ultrathin sections were cut and post-stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate. These sections were examined using a JEOL 1200EX transmission electron microscope. Statistics All samples were at least prepared in triplicate. Results from the quantitative studies are expressed in terms of mean and standard deviation of three independent experiments. Statistical analyses were performed by one-way ANOVA and comparisons between groups were performed using the Student’s t test. Differences were considered significant at p,0.05. Mitotracker staining and confocal microscopy MitoTracker Red CMXRos, a mitochon