Staying cool in difficult times: mitochondrial dynamics, quality control and the stress response

One of the critical problems with the combustion of sugar and fat is the generation of cellular oxidation. The ongoing consumption of oxygen results in damage to lipids, protein and mtDNA, which must be repaired through essential pathways in mitochondrial quality control. It has long been established that intrinsic protease pathways within the matrix and intermembrane space actively degrade unfolded and oxidized mitochondrial proteins. However, more recent work into the field of quality control has established distinct roles for both mitochondrial fragmentation and hyperfusion in different aspects of quality control and survival. In addition, mitochondrial derived vesicles have recently been shown to carry cargo directly to the lysosome, adding further insight into the integration of mitochondrial dynamics in cellular homeostasis. This review will focus on the mechanisms and emerging questions concerning the links between mitochondrial dynamics and quality control. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Protein Import and Quality Control in Mitochondria and Plastids.