Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2025

Simple Microfluidic Devices for in vivo Imaging of C. elegans, Drosophila and Zebrafish
10:32

Simple Microfluidic Devices for in vivo Imaging of C. elegans, Drosophila and Zebrafish

Published on: September 30, 2012

17.1K

Compositionally unique mitochondria in filopodia support cellular migration

Madeleine Marlar-Pavey1, Daniel Tapias-Gomez1, Marcel Mettlen1

  • 1Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX.

Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|July 1, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Mitochondria can specialize, with unique peripheral mitochondria (METEORs) supporting cell migration. These specialized mitochondria, enriched with MICOS and MCU, traffic to filopodia, enhancing cellular motility.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Mitochondrial Biology
  • Cell Motility

Background:

  • Cellular metabolic demands vary, necessitating functional specialization of mitochondria.
  • The extent of mitochondrial specialization and their role in cell migration remains largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the subcellular distribution and functional specialization of mitochondria.
  • To identify novel mitochondrial subpopulations and their role in cell migration.

Main Methods:

  • Subcellular fractionation and immunofluorescence microscopy to analyze MICOS distribution.
  • Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and matrix protein content analysis.
  • Expression analysis of calcium uniporter (MCU) and myosin MYO19.
  • Live-cell imaging of mitochondrial trafficking to filopodia.
  • Functional assays assessing cellular motility upon mitochondrial manipulation.

Main Results:

  • A novel subpopulation of peripheral mitochondria, termed METEORs (Mitochondria Enriched in the Cell Periphery), was identified.
  • METEORs are characterized by MICOS enrichment, mtDNA and matrix protein depletion, and high MCU levels.
  • METEORs are associated with myosin MYO19 and traffic to filopodia.
  • The presence of METEORs in filopodia positively correlates with filopodia length.
  • Elimination of mitochondria from filopodia impairs cell migration.

Conclusions:

  • Mitochondria exhibit heterogeneity, with specialized subpopulations like METEORs.
  • Compositionally specialized mitochondria, particularly METEORs, play a crucial role in supporting cell migration.

More Related Videos

Measuring Cell-Edge Protrusion Dynamics during Spreading using Live-Cell Microscopy05:50

Measuring Cell-Edge Protrusion Dynamics during Spreading using Live-Cell Microscopy

Published on: November 1, 2021

2.3K
Assessment of Dictyostelium discoideum Response to Acute Mechanical Stimulation10:40

Assessment of Dictyostelium discoideum Response to Acute Mechanical Stimulation

Published on: November 9, 2017

7.0K

Related Concept Videos

Mechanism of Filopodia Formation01:39

Mechanism of Filopodia Formation

Filopodia are thin, actin-rich cellular protrusions that play an important role in many fundamental cellular functions. They vary in their occurrence, length, and positioning in different cell types, suggesting their diverse roles.
Their main function is to guide migrating cells during normal tissue morphogenesis or cancer metastasis by recognizing and making initial contacts with the extracellular matrix. However, they can also act as stationary cell anchors or help to establish communication...
2.3K
Role of Myosin in Cell Migration01:18

Role of Myosin in Cell Migration

Myosins are multimeric motor proteins involved in various cellular processes such as migration, adhesion, and proliferation. Myosin II is the most common type in animal cells, which binds and cross-links actin filaments.
Myosin II  is a hexamer comprising two heavy chains with globular heads and coiled-coil tails, two regulatory light chains, and two essential light chains. The ATPase sites on the myosin heads hydrolyze ATP, and the released phosphate generates the force for contraction....
2.3K
Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation01:31

Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation

Cells migrating in response to external stimuli form lamellipodia, which are thin membrane protrusions supported by a mesh of linked, branched, or unbranched actin filaments. These actin filaments interact with myosin motor proteins, creating the dynamic actomyosin complex within the cytoskeleton. Contractility, or the ability to generate contractile stress, is inherent to the actomyosin complex. It helps cells detect the stiffness of the surrounding ECM and exert contractile force for...
2.5K
Cell Migration01:09

Cell Migration

Cell migration, the process by which cells move from one location to another, is essential for the proper development and viability of organisms throughout their life. When cells are not able to migrate properly to their ordained locations, various disorders may occur. For example, disruption in cell migration causes chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.
17.0K
Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration01:32

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration

A migrating cell changes its shape during the cyclic events of attachment and detachment from the substratum and repositions the cell organelles correspondingly. These complex events are orchestrated by the dynamic cytoskeletal network comprising actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Cytoskeletal crosstalk — the direct and indirect communication between the different components — is crucial for this coordination. Direct communication involves various linker...
4.7K
Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility01:13

Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility

Actin is a family of globular proteins that are highly abundant in eukaryotic cells. It makes up approximately 1-5% of total cell protein concentration. Actin monomers polymerize to form a complex network of polarized filaments, the actin cytoskeleton, that plays a crucial role in many cellular processes, including cell motility, division, endocytosis, and metastasis of cancer cells.
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics can produce pushing, pulling, and resistance forces that help the cell to migrate....
5.2K