title: Fusion of mitochondria in mammalian cells is dependent on the mitochondrial inner membrane potential and independent of microtubules or actin.
abstract: Mitochondrial fusion is a poorly characterized process which has mainly been studied in yeast and Drosophila but is thought to occur in all eukaryotes. Until now, there was only indirect evidence to support such a process in mammalian cells. In this study, using a cell fusion system, we found that mitochondrial fusion occurs rapidly in mammalian cells and is completed in less than 24 h. We report that the fusion of mitochondria requires an intact mitochondrial inner membrane potential but is independent of a functional cytoskeleton.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, University of Geneva, Quai Ernest-Ansermet 30, Geneva, Switzerland
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mattenberger
authors.forename: Dominic I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: Jean Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Martinou
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004285:Dogs; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000502:physiology*; D008561:Membrane Fusion; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology*; D014404:Tubulin / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D014404:Tubulin