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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Experimental Approaches to Study Mitochondrial Localization and Function of a Nuclear Cell Cycle Kinase, Cdk1
Published on: February 25, 2016
Developmentally regulated GTP-binding protein 2 depletion leads to mitochondrial dysfunction through downregulation
Mai-Tram Vo1, Myoung Seok Ko2, Unn Hwa Lee1
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Ulsan, Ulsan 680-749, South Korea.
Abstract:
Mitochondrial dynamics, including constant fusion and fission, play critical roles in maintaining mitochondrial morphology and function. Here, we report that developmentally regulated GTP-binding protein 2 (DRG2) regulates mitochondrial morphology by modulating the expression of the mitochondrial fission gene dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1). shRNA-mediated silencing of DRG2 induced mitochondrial swelling, whereas expression of an shRNA-resistant version of DRG2 decreased mitochondrial swelling in DRG2-depleted cells. Analysis of the expression levels of genes involved in mitochondrial fusion and fission revealed that DRG2 depletion significantly decreased the level of Drp1. Overexpression of Drp1 rescued the defect in mitochondrial morphology induced by DRG2 depletion. DRG2 depletion reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential, oxygen consumption rate (OCR), and amount of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), whereas it increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and apoptosis. Taken together, our data demonstrate that DRG2 acts as a regulator of mitochondrial fission by controlling the expression of Drp1.
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