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The machines that divide and fuse mitochondria
Author(s) -
Nunnari Jodi
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a96-d
Subject(s) - mitochondrial fusion , microbiology and biotechnology , dynamin , gtpase , mitochondrion , organelle , compartment (ship) , biology , mfn2 , function (biology) , cell division , mitochondrial fission , computational biology , cell , genetics , mitochondrial dna , endocytosis , oceanography , geology , gene
Mitochondria are essential, double‐membraned organelles that perform a myriad of tasks within cells. Unlike their bacterial ancestors, they are not discrete entities; rather isolated organelles are transient and are constantly in communication via fusion to form both localized and widespread mitochondrial syncytia. Mitochondrial division antagonizes fusion and together these events function to create a compartment that is connected and functional, yet able to be distributed to distant cellular destinations via transport. Proteins directly required for mitochondrial division and fusion have been identified and among them are three highly conserved dynamin‐related proteins (DRPs), which are large self‐assembling GTPases that regulate membrane dynamics in a variety of cellular processes. We have established in vitro assays that recapitulate mitochondrial division and fusion events. Our recent progress towards understanding the mechanistic roles these DRPs play during division and fusion will be discussed.