%0 Journal Article
%T Mitochondrial fission and fusion in Dictyostelium discoideum: a search for proteins involved in membrane dynamics
%A Brixey G Schimmel
%A Gregory W Berbusse
%A Kari Naylor
%J BMC Research Notes
%D 2012
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1756-0500-5-505
%X Using laser scanning confocal microscopy we show, for the first time, that lower eukaryotes mediate mitochondrial fission and fusion. In Dictyostelium, these processes are balanced, occurring approximately 1 event/minute. Quantification of the rates in midA-, cluA-, dymA-, or dymB- strains established that MidA appears to play an indirect role in the regulation of fission and fusion, while the DRP¡¯s are not essential for these processes. Rates of fission and fusion were significantly reduced in cluA-cells, indicating that CluA is necessary for maintaining both fission and fusion.We have successfully demonstrated that Dictyostelium mitochondria undergo the dynamic processes of fission and fusion. The classical mediators of membrane dynamics - the DRP¡¯s ¨C are not necessary for these dynamics, whereas CluA is necessary for both processes. This work contributes to our overall understanding of mitochondrial dynamics and ultimately will provide additional insight into mitochondrial disease.Mitochondria are cellular organelles that produce energy in the form of ATP, play a central role in cellular metabolic pathways, and are essential for regulating apoptosis [1-3]. In most organisms, mitochondria are reticular, highly branched, complex structures [4]. The maintenance of this structure is vital for the success of these and other essential cellular functions. In both yeast and mammalian cells, this tubular structure is maintained by a balance of two dynamic and highly conserved processes: fission and fusion. Fission is the process by which mitochondria divide, while fusion occurs when neighbouring organelles join together to become one [1,4,5].Disrupting these processes alters not only the mitochondrial morphology but also the distribution of mitochondria throughout the cell. Uneven distribution decreases the targeting efficiency of critical metabolites, such as ATP [6]. It has also been suggested that fission and fusion ensure a healthy population of mitochondria and prote
%K Mitochondria
%K Fission
%K Fusion
%K Mitochondrial morphology
%K Dictyostelium discoideum
%K MidA
%K CluA
%K Dynamin
%U http://www.biomedcentral.com/1756-0500/5/505