title: An evidence based hypothesis on the existence of two pathways of mitochondrial crista formation.
abstract: Metabolic function and architecture of mitochondria are intimately linked. More than 60 years ago, cristae were discovered as characteristic elements of mitochondria that harbor the protein complexes of oxidative phosphorylation, but how cristae are formed, remained an open question. Here we present experimental results obtained with yeast that support a novel hypothesis on the existence of two molecular pathways that lead to the generation of lamellar and tubular cristae. Formation of lamellar cristae depends on the mitochondrial fusion machinery through a pathway that is required also for homeostasis of mitochondria and mitochondrial DNA. Tubular cristae are formed via invaginations of the inner boundary membrane by a pathway independent of the fusion machinery. Dimerization of the F1FO-ATP synthase and the presence of the MICOS complex are necessary for both pathways. The proposed hypothesis is suggested to apply also to higher eukaryotes, since the key components are conserved in structure and function throughout evolution.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany.|Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Martinsried, Germany.
authors.forename: Max E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Harner
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology and Electron Microscopy, Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Ann-Katrin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Unger
authors.affiliation: Biomolecular Imaging, Bijvoet Center, Universiteit Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Willie Jc
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Geerts
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Muriel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mari
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany.
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Izawa
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology and Electron Microscopy, Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stenger
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology and Electron Microscopy, Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Geimer
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Reggiori
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology and Electron Microscopy, Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Benedikt
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2991-1604
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Westermann
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany.|Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Biomedical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Martinsried, Germany.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0571-4419
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Neupert
mesh_terms: D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D063154:Mitochondrial Dynamics / Q000502:physiology; D051336:Mitochondrial Membranes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D025261:Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001678:Organelle Biogenesis; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C082883:MGM1 protein, S cerevisiae; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; C474451:F1F0-ATP synthase; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D025261:Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases; C094774:DNM1 protein, S cerevisiae
keywords: F1FO-ATP synthase; MICOS; Mgm1/Opa1; S. cerevisiae; biochemistry; cell biology; crista formation; mitochondria; mitochondrial fusion