Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38448655›Full record

ArticleCommunications biology2024

Exploring the limitations of mitochondrial dye as a genuine horizontal mitochondrial transfer surrogate.

Chuanfang Chen, Haige Li, Jia Zhang, Shih-Chin Cheng

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Communications biology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 24 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
24citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
3.7field-weighted citation impact, top 6% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

24 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 16 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Chuanfang ChenState Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University; Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China. 21620200156475@stu.xmu.edu.cn.ORCID 0009-0004-1798-9529
Haige LiState Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University; Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China.
Jia ZhangState Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University; Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China.
Shih-Chin ChengState Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University; Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China. jamescheng@xmu.edu.cn.ORCID 0000-0003-1251-8774
Xiamen University · CN

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 32070904National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 32161133020
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Rosamine-based mitochondrial dyes, such as Mitotracker Red, have commonly been employed to visualize mitochondrial localization within cells due to their preferential accumulation in organelles with membrane potential. Consequently, Mitotracker Red has often served as a surrogate indicator for tracking mitochondrial movement between neighboring cells. However, it is important to note that the presence of membrane potential in the cell membrane and other organelles may lead to the non-specific partial enrichment of Mitotracker Red in locations other than mitochondria. This study comprehensively investigates the reliability of mitochondrial dye as a marker for studying horizontal mitochondrial transfer (HMT). By meticulous replicating of previous experiments and comparing the efficiency of mitochondrial dye transfer with that of mito-targeted GFP, our findings confirm that HMT occurs at significantly lower efficiency than previously indicated by Mitotracker dye. Subsequent experiments involving mitochondria-deficient cells robustly demonstrates the non-specificity of mitochondrial dye as indicator for mitochondria. We advocate for a thorough reevaluation of existing literature in this field and propose exploration of alternative techniques to enhance the investigation of HMT. By addressing these pivotal aspects, we can advance our understanding of cellular dynamics and pave the way for future explorations in this captivating field.

Indexed as

Coloring AgentsMitochondriaCell MembraneMembrane PotentialsReproducibility of ResultsColoring Agents

Identifiers

PMID38448655
PMCPMC10917768
OpenAlexW4392558302

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.