TY - JOUR
T1 - Mechanical force induces mitochondrial fission
AU - Helle, Sebastian Carsten Johannes
AU - Feng, Qian
AU - Aebersold, Mathias J.
AU - Hirt, Luca
AU - Grüter, Raphael R.
AU - Vahid Belarghou, A.
AU - Sirianni, Andrea
AU - Mostowy, Serge
AU - Snedeker, Jess G.
AU - Šarić, Anđela
AU - Idema, Timon
AU - Zambelli, Tomaso
AU - Kornmann, Benoît
PY - 2017/11/9
Y1 - 2017/11/9
N2 - Eukaryotic cells are densely packed with macromolecular complexes and intertwining organelles, continually transported and reshaped. Intriguingly, organelles avoid clashing and entangling with each other in such limited space. Mitochondria form extensive networks constantly remodeled by fission and fusion. Here, we show that mitochondrial fission is triggered by mechanical forces. Mechano-stimulation of mitochondria - via encounter with motile intracellular pathogens, via external pressure applied by an atomic force microscope, or via cell migration across uneven microsurfaces - results in the recruitment of the mitochondrial fission machinery, and subsequent division. We propose that MFF, owing to affinity for narrow mitochondria, acts as a membrane-bound force sensor to recruit the fission machinery to mechanically strained sites. Thus, mitochondria adapt to the environment by sensing and responding to biomechanical cues. Our findings that mechanical triggers can be coupled to biochemical responses in membrane dynamics may explain how organelles orderly cohabit in the crowded cytoplasm.
AB - Eukaryotic cells are densely packed with macromolecular complexes and intertwining organelles, continually transported and reshaped. Intriguingly, organelles avoid clashing and entangling with each other in such limited space. Mitochondria form extensive networks constantly remodeled by fission and fusion. Here, we show that mitochondrial fission is triggered by mechanical forces. Mechano-stimulation of mitochondria - via encounter with motile intracellular pathogens, via external pressure applied by an atomic force microscope, or via cell migration across uneven microsurfaces - results in the recruitment of the mitochondrial fission machinery, and subsequent division. We propose that MFF, owing to affinity for narrow mitochondria, acts as a membrane-bound force sensor to recruit the fission machinery to mechanically strained sites. Thus, mitochondria adapt to the environment by sensing and responding to biomechanical cues. Our findings that mechanical triggers can be coupled to biochemical responses in membrane dynamics may explain how organelles orderly cohabit in the crowded cytoplasm.
UR - http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:568363df-1e8f-40f2-a1dd-31b187fc8b6a
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85036566288&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.7554/eLife.30292
DO - 10.7554/eLife.30292
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85036566288
VL - 6
SP - 1
EP - 26
JO - eLife
JF - eLife
SN - 2050-084X
M1 - e30292
ER -