A molecular switch that governs mitochondrial fusion and fission mediated by the BCL2-like protein CED-9 of Caenorhabditis elegans.

ABSTRACT: Depending on the cellular context, BCL2-like proteins promote mitochondrial fusion or fission. What determines which of these two opposing processes they promote has so far been unknown. Furthermore, the mechanisms through which BCL2-like proteins affect mitochondrial dynamics remain to be fully understood. The BCL2-like protein CED-9 of Caenorhabditis elegans has previously been shown to promote mitochondrial fusion by physically interacting with the mitochondrial fusion protein FZO-1. Here, we report that CED-9 also physically interacts with the mitochondrial fission protein DRP-1 and that this interaction can be enhanced when CED-9 is associated with the BH3-only protein EGL-1. In addition, we show that the EGL-1-CED-9 complex promotes mitochondrial fission by recruiting DRP-1 to mitoch

SUBMITTER: Lu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3193245 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature