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Updated: May 13, 2025
09:13
Sensitive Measurement of Mitophagy by Flow Cytometry Using the pH-dependent Fluorescent Reporter mt-Keima
Published on: August 12, 2018
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Mitochondrial function regulates cell growth kinetics to actively maintain mitochondrial homeostasis
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|April 16, 2025
Summary
Mitochondria are inherited, not made anew, in dividing cells. Their function dictates cell division timing and ensures consistent mitochondrial volume across generations, maintaining cellular homeostasis.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Mitochondrial Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Mitochondria are inherited from mother cells during cell division, not formed de novo.
- Maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis is vital for cell survival, but the mechanisms ensuring consistent mitochondrial volume across cell generations are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanisms of mitochondrial volume homeostasis in dividing yeast cells.
- To determine the role of mitochondrial function in cell cycle progression and growth.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a microfluidic yeast 'mother machine' to track multiple generations of fission yeast.
- Observed cell size and mitochondrial volume dynamics during the cell cycle.
- Conducted experiments with mitochondrial DNA-deficient rho0 cells and quantitative modeling.
Main Results:
- Cell size and mitochondrial volume exhibited exponential growth during the cell cycle.
- Mitochondrial homeostasis depended on the 'sizer' mechanism for cell size control.
- Mitochondrial function critically influenced cell division timing; cells with less mitochondria grew slower and added more.
- Mitochondrial activity was essential for driving exponential cell growth.
Conclusions:
- Mitochondrial function is a key determinant of cellular growth rates.
- Mitochondrial activity ensures mitochondrial volume homeostasis across cell generations.
- The study reveals a crucial link between mitochondrial function, cell cycle control, and overall cellular growth.
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