Measuring cellular oxygen consumption rates (OCR) can aid our understanding of mitochondrial function and its impact on health and disease. For lab managers overseeing mitochondrial studies, ensuring reliable OCR measurements is crucial. Variables such as cell number, mitochondrial mass, and media components can distort OCR measurements, making the difference between groundbreaking insights and misleading conclusions.
Recent advancements in technology now allow for long-term, high-throughput measurement of OCR in living cells for the duration of an experiment. This capability can provide new insights into how cells metabolize, divide, differentiate, and respond to stress under changing conditions.
This white paper provides a detailed guide to OCR normalization methods including microscopy techniques, flow cytometry, protein-based, and DNA content normalization. It covers both internal and external normalization techniques, explaining how each can be used to control for variables and extract meaningful differences from your data.
By adopting these best practices, your lab can enhance the reliability of OCR measurements, leading to deeper insights into mitochondrial function and its role in health and disease.
Download the full resource guide to learn:
- The role of OCR in understanding mitochondrial function and cellular health
- How advanced technology enables long-term, high-throughput OCR measurement in live cells
- Key normalization techniques to ensure accurate and reproducible OCR data
- The pros and cons of various normalization techniques such as flow cytometry and microscopy
- Strategies for overcoming common challenges in mitochondrial research