Cited by 3,082Autophagy in Disease and TherapyMitochondrial Function and PathologyCell death mechanisms and regulation

Fission and selective fusion govern mitochondrial segregation and elimination by autophagy

Open access
Twig, Gilad, Elorza, Alvaro, Molina, Anthony J A, Mohamed, Hibo, Wikstrom, Jakob D, Walzer, Gil, Stiles, Linsey, Haigh, Sarah E +9 more·2008·The EMBO Journal

Abstract

Accumulation of depolarized mitochondria within beta-cells has been associated with oxidative damage and development of diabetes. To determine the source and fate of depolarized mitochondria, individual mitochondria were photolabeled and tracked through fusion and fission. Mitochondria were found to go through frequent cycles of fusion and fission in a 'kiss and run' pattern. Fission events often generated uneven daughter units: one daughter exhibited increased membrane potential (delta psi(m)) and a high probability of subsequent fusion, while the other had decreased membrane potential and a reduced probability for a fusion event. Together, this pattern generated a subpopulation of non-fusing mitochondria that were found to have reduced delta psi(m) and decreased levels of the fusion protein OPA1. Inhibition of the fission machinery through DRP1(K38A) or FIS1 RNAi decreased mitochondrial autophagy and resulted in the accumulation of oxidized mitochondrial proteins, reduced respiration and impaired insulin secretion. Pulse chase and arrest of autophagy at the pre-proteolysis stage reveal that before autophagy mitochondria lose delta psi(m) and OPA1, and that overexpression of OPA1 decreases mitochondrial autophagy. Together, these findings suggest that fission followed by selective fusion segregates dysfunctional mitochondria and permits their removal by autophagy.

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Crossref · 10.1038/sj.emboj.7601963

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  • Dysfunctional mitochondrial dynamics, particularly excessive mitochondrial fission, have been associated with oxidative stress, mitochondrial DNA damage, and cellular senescence in various cell types.

    “Dysfunctional mitochondrial dynamics, as observed here, particularly excessive mitochondrial fission, have been associated with oxidative stress, mitochondrial DNA damage, and cellular senescence in various cell types (Twig et al., 2008; Miwa et al., 2022).”

    From Aging promotes an increase in mitochondrial fragmentation in astrocytes (2024) · cites this paper as Twig et al., 2008

    In “Inhibition of fission reduces mitochondrial autophagy” (page not provided), the paper reports increased oxidized mitochondrial proteins when fission is inhibited, but not increased ROS. “Mitochondrial dynamics and insulin secretion” (page not provided) discusses senescence in cells where fission has been hampered. These passages do not support excessive fission as the associated change, and the copy does not report mitochondrial DNA damage. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Fusion between healthy and damaged organelles allows dilution of damaged material into the healthy network, avoids accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria, and maintains overall function.

    “Besides, the fusion between healthy and damaged organelles allows to dilute the damaged material into the healthy network, avoids the accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria, and maintains their overall function [58].”
  • Impairment of fission leads to disruption of selective mitochondrial autophagic degradation, followed by dysfunctional organelle accumulation.

    “Impairment of fission leads to the disruption of selective mitochondrial autophagic degradation, followed by dysfunctional organelles accumulation [58, 196–200].”
  • Mitochondrial fusion in mammalian cells is regulated by Mfn1, Mfn2, and Opa1.

    “Mitochondrial fusion in mammalian cells is regulated by the proteins mitofusin 1 and mitofusin 2 (Mfn1 and Mfn2) and optic atrophy 1 (Opa1).”

    From Mitochondrial DNA and TLR9 drive muscle inflammation upon Opa1 deficiency (2018) · cites this paper as Twig et al, 2008

  • Fission segregates components of the mitochondrial network that are irreversibly damaged or unnecessary for subsequent removal.

    “Fission segregates components of the network that are irreversibly damaged or unnecessary for subsequent removal (Twig et al., 2008).”

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Authors
Twig, G., Elorza, A., Molina, A. J. A., Mohamed, H., Wikstrom, J. D., Walzer, G., Stiles, L., Haigh, S. E., Katz, S., Las, G., Alroy, J., Wu, M., Py, B. F., Yuan, J., Deeney, J. T., Corkey, B. E., & Shirihai, O. S.
Affiliations
  • Tufts University (US)
  • Boston University (US)
  • Billerica Public Library (US)
  • Harvard University (US)
Corresponding author
Shirihai, Orian S
Venue
The EMBO Journal
Published
2008-01-17
Volume
27
Issue
2
Pages
433-446
ISSN
  • 0261-4189 (ISSN-L)
  • 1460-2075
OpenAlex
W2139636031
Cited by
3,082
References
39
Citations by year
2026: 107 · 2025: 144 · 2024: 207 · 2023: 167 · 2022: 186 · 2021: 217 · 2020: 204 · 2019: 176 · 2018: 194 · 2017: 193 · 2016: 188 · 2015: 185 · 2014: 165 · 2013: 171 · 2012: 202
FWCI
91.10
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The EMBO Journal (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation (0215829)
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL071629)
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R01DK074778)
  • National Center for Research Resources (P41RR001395)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Autophagy in Disease and Therapy
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Cell death mechanisms and regulation
Keywords
mitochondrial fission, mitochondrial fusion, kiss-and-run, mitophagy, OPA1, Drp1, Fis1, pancreatic beta cells, insulin secretion, mitochondrial membrane potential, oxidative stress, diabetes mellitus, mitochondrial segregation
MeSH terms
Autophagy-Related Protein 5, Insulin Secretion, Animals, Autophagy, Cell Line, Genotype, Insulin, Male, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Microtubule-Associated Proteins, Mitochondria, Models, Biological, Mutation, Reactive Oxygen Species, Microscopy, Confocal, GTP Phosphohydrolases, Mitochondrial Proteins, Green Fluorescent Proteins, Insulin-Secreting Cells, Mice, Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial

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