MiD49 and MiD51, new components of the mitochondrial fission machinery

• Published in: EMBO reports 2011-06, Vol.12 (6), p.565-573
• Main Authors: Palmer, Catherine S, Osellame, Laura D, Laine, David, Koutsopoulos, Olga S, Frazier, Ann E, Ryan, Michael T
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Actins - metabolism; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Carbonyl Cyanide m-Chlorophenyl Hydrazone - pharmacology; Cell Line; Cercopithecus aethiops; COS Cells; Cytoskeleton; Drp1; EMBO20; fission; fusion; HeLa Cells; Humans; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial - drug effects; Membrane Proteins - genetics; Membrane Proteins - metabolism; Mice; Microtubule-Associated Proteins - metabolism; Mitochondria; Mitochondria - metabolism; Mitochondria - pathology; Mitochondrial Membranes - metabolism; Mitochondrial Proteins - genetics; Mitochondrial Proteins - metabolism; Molecular Sequence Data; Morphology; Peptide Elongation Factors - genetics; Peptide Elongation Factors - metabolism; Protein Transport - genetics; Proteins; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear - genetics; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear - metabolism; RNA Interference; Scientific Report; Scientific Reports; Sequence Alignment; Uncoupling Agents - pharmacology
• ISSN: 1469-221X; 1469-3178
• DOI: 10.1038/embor.2011.54

Mitochondria form intricate networks through fission and fusion events. Here, we identify mitochondrial dynamics proteins of 49 and 51 kDa (MiD49 and MiD51, respectively) anchored in the mitochondrial outer membrane. MiD49/51 form foci and rings around mitochondria similar to the fission mediator dynamin‐related protein 1 (Drp1). MiD49/51 directly recruit Drp1 to the mitochondrial surface, whereas their knockdown reduces Drp1 association, leading to unopposed fusion. Overexpression of MiD49/51 seems to sequester Drp1 from functioning at mitochondria and cause fused tubules to associate with actin. Thus, MiD49/51 are new mediators of mitochondrial division affecting Drp1 action at mitochondria. Mitochondria undergo fission and fusion events that are essential for proper cellular function. Here, MiD49 and MiD51 are identified as novel regulators of mitochondrial division that act on the fission mediator Drp1.