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Published on: July 6, 2019
Local Mitochondrial Growth Initiated by Femtosecond Laser-Evoked Ca2+ Signaling
Bingyi Li1, Zichuan Tang1, Hao He1
1School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Journal of Biophotonics
|June 21, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed an optical method to control calcium signaling, enabling targeted mitochondrial growth. This discovery reveals a new pathway linking calcium to mitochondrial structure, distinct from the AMPK pathway.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Mitochondrial Physiology
- Calcium Signaling
Background:
- Mitochondrial structural remodeling is intrinsically linked to intracellular calcium (Ca2+) signaling.
- Precise control over the spatiotemporal dynamics of this process is essential for understanding mitochondrial function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel optical method for inducing localized Ca2+ influx.
- To investigate the mechanisms underlying Ca2+-regulated mitochondrial structural remodeling in living cells.
Main Methods:
- Utilized femtosecond laser-controlled store-operated calcium channel (femtoSOC) activation for precise optical control of Ca2+ influx.
- Observed region-specific mitochondrial growth in response to localized Ca2+ signaling.
Main Results:
- The Ca2+-regulated mitochondrial growth was dependent on MCU-mediated Ca2+ uptake and OPA1-mediated fusion.
- This process was found not to be primarily mediated by the AMPK/CaMKKβ pathway.
- Demonstrated a minimally invasive strategy for optical manipulation of mitochondrial dynamics.
Conclusions:
- Localized Ca2+ signaling can precisely control mitochondrial structural remodeling.
- Identified an AMPK-independent pathway connecting localized Ca2+ influx to mitochondrial dynamics, offering new insights into mitochondrial physiology.
