Oroboros FAQ
O2k FAQ
IS THE OROBOROS OXYGRAPH-2K (O2K) EASY TO USE IN STANDARD APPLICATIONS OF MITOCHONDRIAL RESPIRATION?
Yes! The O2k is a robust instrument, ready to be used for standard applications, providing high reliability, stability of the oxygen sensor over several months, and full software support. See: DatLab
MOST 'OXYGRAPHS' ARE DESIGNED TO ANALYZE ISOLATED MOTOCHONDRIA. WHICH TYPES OF SAMPLES CAN BE ANALYZED WITH THE O2K?
The O2k can be routinely applied for cultured cells, intact cells and tissue biopsies, permeabilized cells and tissue biopsies, microbial cultures, oxygen-consuming enzymes, antioxidant systems, and, of course, isolated mitochondria. See: Respirometry
WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT HIGH_RESOLUTION RESPIROMETRY?
The O2k is a sole source apparatus, with no other available instrument meeting its specifications for high-resolution respirometry.
O2k high-resolution respirometry (HRR) is based on the OROBOROS O2k, combining chamber design, application of oxygen-tight materials, electrochemical and optical sensors, Peltier-temperature control and software features (DatLab) to obtain the unique sensitive and quantitative resolution of oxygen concentration and oxygen flux, with a closed-chamber or open-chamber mode of operation (TIP2k). See: High-Resolution_Respirometry
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON O2K APPLICATIONS?
The most common applications for the OROBOROS O2k are the following:
- Diagnosis of acquired and genetic mitochondrial diseases
- Diagnosis of myopathies and neuromuscular pathologies
- Studies on cell function and cell death - apoptosis and necrosis
- Oxidative stress
- Ischemia-reperfusion injury
- Aging and senescence
- Pharmacological tests
For more applications, browse through the O2k-Publications.
Can the O2k be applied for the measurement of oxygen consumption in delicate mammalian cells, when limited numbers of cells are available?
With the OROBOROS Oxygraph-2k, five to ten times lower cell numbers are required for routine measurements of cell respiration, compared to other instruments. It is important to evaluate cost-effective high output per unit of resources (financial, personnel, time).
Can the O2k be applied to measure human biopsies?
With permeabilized biopsy preparations, the O2k provides the unique potential to reduce the amount of biopsy to as little as 1 mg fresh weight per experimental run, with application of complex titration protocols.
Can the O2k be applied to measure tissue oxygen concentration?
The O2k is a 'chamber' approach, for application with tissue biopsies, cultured cells or isolated mitochondria. Whereas HRR cannot be applied for measurement of tissue O2 concentration, it is the method of choice for analysis of tissue O2 consumption and functional diagnosis of mitochondrial injuries.
Can the Oxygraph-2k be applied for the measurement of oxygen consumption in adherent cells?
Attached cells may be introduced into the chamber by growing them on a disk, which then is inserted into the cylindrical chamber. Alternatively, cells attached to beads may be used, but only with gentle stirring which does not crash the beads, which requires application of a specific small stirrer flee. Routinely, we apply the Oxygraph-2k on adherent cells after bringing the cells into suspension. For small cells such as fibroblasts, we need 200,000 cells per chamber.
