title: Natural variation in Caenorhabditis briggsae mitochondrial form and function suggests a novel model of organelle dynamics.
abstract: Mitochondrial functioning and morphology are known to be connected through cycles of organelle fusion and fission that depend upon the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨM); however, we lack an understanding of the features and dynamics of natural mitochondrial populations. Using data from our recent study of univariate mitochondrial phenotypic variation in Caenorhabditis briggsae nematodes, we analyzed patterns of phenotypic correlation for 24 mitochondrial traits. Our findings support a role for ΔΨM in shaping mitochondrial dynamics, but no role for mitochondrial ROS. Further, our study suggests a novel model of mitochondrial population dynamics dependent upon cellular environmental context and with implications for mitochondrial genome integrity.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Portland State University, 1719 SW 10th Ave., Portland, OR 97201, USA. khicks@pdx.edu
authors.forename: Kiley A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Hicks
authors.forename: Dee R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Denver
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Estes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002107:Caenorhabditis / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D063154:Mitochondrial Dynamics; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species