Submitochondrial particle

A submitochondrial particle is a compartmentalized membranous product of exposing mitochondria to ultrasound. This causes the cristae to pinch off, and it flips the inner mitochondrial membrane inside out. As a consequence, the F₁ particle is now exposed and on the outside. Using chaotropic agents[?] such as urea, these particles can be removed, dissociating the related ATPase activity from the membrane. However, the electron transport complexes remain on the membrane.

If F₁ particles are removed from submitochondrial particles, they can be reconstituted by carefully removing the chaotropic agent.