Phenotypic characterization of mitochondria in breast cancer cells using morphology and texture properties

Mitochondria play a variety of important roles in eukaryotic cell physiology. In addition to producing ATP, they also regulate various cellular processes such as substrate utilization, redox homeostasis, intracellular calcium regulation and biosynthesis of macromolecules, as well as critical non-metabolic processes, particularly apoptosis. Mitochondria are known to undergo dramatic changes in morphology as cells grow, divide, and die. Mutations that affect mitochondrial morphology can affect metabolic functions as well as the cell’s sensitivity to apoptotic stimuli.1 However, the relationship between mitochondrial structure and function remains unclear.