OCR Text |
Show 84 Tera Nicolo college of science In an ongoing effort to create a more effective mitochondrial biofuel cell, the efficiency of mitochondria extracted from two distinct sources, yeast and potatoes, were compared. Mitochondria were obtained from yeast evolved to the tenth generation in lactic acid media, and following two days of growth, these mitochondria were extracted by differential centrifugation. Mitochondria were also extracted from organ-ic Russet potatoes using a vegetable juicer and differential centrifugation. Oxygen depletion assays have shown that the mitochondria obtained from yeast and potatoes consume 2.1±0.5 and 1.71±0.07 nano-moles of oxygen per milligram mitochondria per minute, respectively. At 95 percent confidence (α=0.05) this rate of consumption is not significantly different. The mitochondria have been immobilized onto the surface of Toray paper electrodes using various polymers. A modified version of the previously mentioned oxygen depletion assay has shown no significant loss in the rate of oxygen consumption. The efficiency with which the mitochondria catalyze the oxidation of fuels, such as pyruvate, has yet to be determined. However, these studies are planned for the continuation of the project. These efficiencies will be deter-mined through various electrochemical techniques, such as cyclic voltammetry and amperometry, for the construction of a viable mitochondrial biofuel cell. COMPARISON OF POTATO AND YEAST MITOCHONDRIA FOR BIOFUEL CELL APPLICATIONS Tera Nicolo (Shelley Minteer) Department of Chemistry University of Utah UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ABSTRACTS Shelley Minteer |