Miro2 tethers the ER to mitochondria to promote mitochondrial fusion in tobacco leaf epidermal cells
White, RR; Lin, C; Leaves, I; et al.Castro, I; Metz, J; Bateman, B; Botchway, S; Ward, A; Ashwin, P; Sparkes, I
Date: 3 April 2020
Journal
Communications Biology
Publisher
Nature Research
Publisher DOI
Abstract
Mitochondria are essential for energy conversion, and metabolic pathways including
photorespiration, biosynthesis of coenzymes and vitamins. They are highly pleomorphic
undergoing rounds of fission and fusion through processes coupled with the metabolic status
of the cell. For example, fusion favours higher energy demand and, ...
Mitochondria are essential for energy conversion, and metabolic pathways including
photorespiration, biosynthesis of coenzymes and vitamins. They are highly pleomorphic
undergoing rounds of fission and fusion through processes coupled with the metabolic status
of the cell. For example, fusion favours higher energy demand and, unlike fission, the
molecular components involved in mitochondrial fusion in plants are unknown. Here, we show
a role for the GTPase Miro2 in mitochondria interaction with the ER and its impacts on
mitochondria fusion and motility. Interaction between these two organelles has been inferred
from close positioning. Mutations in AtMiro2’s GTPase domain indicate that the active variant
results in larger, fewer mitochondria which are attached more readily to the ER when compared
with the inactive variant. These results are contrary to those in metazoans where Miro
predominantly controls mitochondrial motility with additional GTPases affecting fusion.
Synthetically controlling mitochondrial fusion rates could fundamentally change plant
physiology by altering the energy status of the cell. Furthermore, altering tethering to the ER
could have profound effects on subcellular communication through altering the exchange
required for pathogen defence.
Mathematics and Statistics
Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy
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