title: Mitochondria unite to survive.
abstract: Starvation of animals or cells triggers autophagic degradation of cell contents to retrieve nutrients, but, paradoxically, mitochondria enlarge. This is now shown to result from inhibition of mitochondrial fission through PKA-mediated phosphorylation of the GTPase DRP1. Elongation of mitochondria optimizes ATP production and spares them from autophagy-mediated destruction.
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blackstone
authors.forename: Chuang-Rung
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D001343:Autophagy; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010766:Phosphorylation
chemical_list: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases