FBS Colloquia No.324Ubiquitin Biology Laboratory

On the mechanism of homeostasis control of mitochondrial abundance

Mitochondria are crucial for several vital cellular functions, such as ATP synthesis through respiration, lipid metabolism, and iron-sulfur cluster formation. The abundance, or volume density, of mitochondria varies significantly across different cell types, with cardiomyocytes and brown adipocytes exhibiting a relatively high mitochondrial abundance, while keratinocytes and neutrophils possess a lower abundance. Interestingly, cells of the same type tend to maintain a similar mitochondrial abundance, suggesting that there is a homeostasis for abundance of this organelle. Despite this observation, the underlying regulatory mechanisms that govern mitochondrial abundance homeostasis remain poorly understood. To address this gap in our understanding, we aim to perturb mitochondrial abundance and investigate the resulting effects on cellular homeostasis. In this seminar, we will present our latest findings in this exciting area of research.