Visualizing mitochondrial lipids and fusion events in Mammalian cells

Mitochondria are dynamic organelles that frequently undergo fusion and fission, the balance of which is critical for proper cellular functioning and viability. Most studies on mitochondrial fusion and fission mechanisms have focused on proteins thought to physically mediate the events. However, dynamic changes in membrane phospholipids also play roles in facilitating the fusion and fission events. This chapter will review the importance of lipids in mitochondrial dynamics and some of the methods that can be used to study the function of lipids in mitochondrial fusion and fission.