In vivo tissue-wide synchronization of mitochondrial metabolic oscillations.
Little is known about the spatiotemporal coordination of mitochondrial metabolism in multicellular organisms in situ. Using intravital microscopy in live animals, we report that mitochondrial metabolism undergoes rapid and periodic oscillations under basal conditions. Notably, mitochondria in vivo behave as a network of functionally coupled oscillators, which maintain a high level of coordination throughout the tissue via the activity of gap junctions. These findings reveal a unique aspect of the relationship between tissue architecture and self-organization of mitochondrial metabolism in vivo.
Intracellular Membrane Trafficking Unit, Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, 30 Convent Drive 303A, Bethesda, MD 20892-4340, USA.
Natalie
N
Porat-Shliom
Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive 6B17, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Yun
Y
Chen
Intracellular Membrane Trafficking Unit, Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, 30 Convent Drive 303A, Bethesda, MD 20892-4340, USA.
Muhibullah
M
Tora
Intracellular Membrane Trafficking Unit, Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, 30 Convent Drive 303A, Bethesda, MD 20892-4340, USA.
Akiko
A
Shitara
Intracellular Membrane Trafficking Unit, Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, 30 Convent Drive 303A, Bethesda, MD 20892-4340, USA.
Andrius
A
Masedunskas
Intracellular Membrane Trafficking Unit, Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, 30 Convent Drive 303A, Bethesda, MD 20892-4340, USA. Electronic address: weigertr@mail.nih.gov.
Roberto
R
Weigert
D061354:Acinar Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley