Fluorescence - comparing Acridine Orange and MitoTracker Green

[macnmotion]

I viewed some freshwater Peritrichs under fluorescence with 2 different stains. It appears that the Acridine Orange has stained the macronucleus, and I think the MitoTracker Green has stained food inside food vacuoles. Can anyone confirm or correct this?

[Alexander]

MitoTracker Green is reported to stain mitochondria. Your pictures match that.

And yes, acridine orange stains the nucleus.

[macnmotion]

MitoTracker Green is reported to stain mitochondria. Your pictures match that.

And yes, acridine orange stains the nucleus.

Thank you very much. Now I have a better idea of what to use and expect. I also have MitoTracker Red.

[SuiGenerisBrewing]

Mitotrackers stain living/active mitochondria. They get trapped by the proton gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane. They will also stain some bacteria, for the same reason. You may see staining in food vacuoles if they contain a still-viable organisms, but otherwise, you're seeing the mitochondria.

[macnmotion]

Mitotrackers stain living/active mitochondria. They get trapped by the proton gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane. They will also stain some bacteria, for the same reason. You may see staining in food vacuoles if they contain a still-viable organisms, but otherwise, you're seeing the mitochondria.

Would mitochondria inside these peritrichs be that large? And would the numbers be different in each protist?

[SuiGenerisBrewing]

Mitochondria often grow as chains and networks, which depending on your resolution may appear to be larger objects due to focal blurring. I'm not overly familiar with protist mitochondria, so I'm not certain what sizes they may be.