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Updated: Jul 9, 2025

A Model Membrane Platform for Reconstituting Mitochondrial Membrane Dynamics
Published on: September 2, 2020
Mechanisms of mitochondrial reorganization
Tatsuro Maruyama1, Yutaro Hama1,2, Nobuo N Noda1,2
1Institute of Microbial Chemistry (BIKAKEN), 3-14-23 Kamiosaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0021, Japan.
Abstract:
The cytoplasm of eukaryotes is dynamically zoned by membrane-bound and membraneless organelles. Cytoplasmic zoning allows various biochemical reactions to take place at the right time and place. Mitochondrion is a membrane-bound organelle that provides a zone for intracellular energy production and metabolism of lipids and iron. A key feature of mitochondria is their high dynamics: mitochondria constantly undergo fusion and fission, and excess or damaged mitochondria are selectively eliminated by mitophagy. Therefore, mitochondria are appropriate model systems to understand dynamic cytoplasmic zoning by membrane organelles. In this review, we summarize the molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial fusion and fission as well as mitophagy unveiled through studies using yeast and mammalian models.
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