VPS13B recruits lipid vesicles to promote mitochondrial fission and quality control

Mutations in the gene VPS13B, which encodes a Golgi-associated protein, cause the neurodevelopmental disorder Cohen syndrome, but the protein's function is unclear. Here we show that this protein is essential for mitochondrial morphology and quality control. Cells lacking VPS13B, including neurons derived from Cohen syndrome patients, exhibit abnormally elongated and fused mitochondria with reduced membrane potential and impaired mitophagy. Mechanistically, the protein localizes to Mitofusin 2-positive mitochondria via its C-terminal region and recruits phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate-rich Golgi vesicles to mitochondrial fission sites. Loss of VPS13B or depletion of phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate results in incomplete mitochondrial fission despite normal recruitment of Dynamin-related protein 1, indicating that lipid transfer by VPS13B is required for membrane fission. VPS13B links Golgi-derived lipid vesicles to the mitochondrial fission machinery, ensuring proper mitochondrial fission and quality control and potentially explaining the mitochondrial defects in Cohen syndrome.