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Updated: May 28, 2026

An Improved Method to Isolate Mitochondrial Contact Sites
Published on: June 16, 2023
The mitochondrial contact site complex, a determinant of mitochondrial architecture
Max Harner1, Christian Körner, Dirk Walther
1Department of Cellular Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (MPIB), Martinsried, Germany.
Abstract:
Mitochondria are organelles with a complex architecture. They are bounded by an envelope consisting of the outer membrane and the inner boundary membrane (IBM). Narrow crista junctions (CJs) link the IBM to the cristae. OMs and IBMs are firmly connected by contact sites (CS). The molecular nature of the CS remained unknown. Using quantitative high-resolution mass spectrometry we identified a novel complex, the mitochondrial contact site (MICOS) complex, formed by a set of mitochondrial membrane proteins that is essential for the formation of CS. MICOS is preferentially located at the CJs. Upon loss of one of the MICOS subunits, CJs disappear completely or are impaired, showing that CJs require the presence of CS to form a superstructure that links the IBM to the cristae. Loss of MICOS subunits results in loss of respiratory competence and altered inheritance of mitochondrial DNA.
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