In the absence of mitochondrial fusion unequal segregation of mitochondria drives mtDNA loss

ABSTRACT: Mitochondrial biogenesis and inheritance must be tightly coordinated with cell division to maintain mitochondrial function and cell survival. The dynamics of the mitochondrial network, including fusion and fission, are essential for mitochondrial inheritance and quality control. In budding yeast, simultaneous inhibition of both processes compromises mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) integrity, increasing the frequency of petite cells. Loss of fusion alone completely eliminates mtDNA. Although this has been known for decades, why mtDNA is lost remained unclear. Here, we examine the effects of impaired mitochondrial fusion by depleting the mitofusin Fzo1. By analyzing over thirty thousand single cells across their cell cycles, we show that Fzo1-depletion induces rapid mitochondrial fragmentation and

SUBMITTER: Lisa Dengler 

PROVIDER: S-SCDT-10_1038-S44319-026-00794-5 | biostudies-other |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other