Mitoplast

A mitoplast is a mitochondrion that has been stripped of its outer membrane leaving the inner membrane intact.

Diagram of mitoplast preparation for electrophysiological analysis. Remnants of the outer mitochondrial membrane remain. IMM = inner mitochondrial membrane (green), OMM = outer mitochondrial membrane (blue)

Mitoplasts are useful for electrophysiological analysis of mitochondrial function. Specifically, patch-clamp electrophysiology has emerged as a novel method for studying functionality of the inner membrane. This method facilitates sensitive current measurement across the membrane, useful for studying the electron transport chain and proton leak (i.e., the uncoupling of proton movement down its electrochemical gradient and ATP synthesis via ATP synthase).