Mitotox

Mitochondria are responsible for two critical cellular functions, i.e. bioenergetics and programmed cell death (apoptosis). Mitochondrial dysfunction has recently been recognized as a critical event triggered by several drugs that have been issued black box warnings, or been withdrawn from the market. This warrants an urgent need to screen for mitotoxins and to integrate this screen into any drug toxicity screening program.

JC-1 dye staining method, cytochrome c release assay, and selective media based assays

• Relies on one or two assays
• Does not reveal any mechanistic insights
• Functional assays rarely performed
• Isolated mitochondria studies not carried out to define direct mitotoxicity

Anthem’s validated Mitotox screen incorporates multiple assays that reveal information about the following:

• mitochondrial function (ATP production)
• mitochondrial DNA damage using real time PCR
• cytochrome C release
• swelling assay,
• JC-1 staining and
• MTT assay

Anthem’s expertise in isolating functional mitochondria, and incorporation of assays using purified mitochondria makes it a unique offering.