Shaping Up Mitochondrion in Motion
We previously reported that hair follicle dermal papilla cells show two types of
mitochondria, which are filamentous and rounded) mitochondria.
Platelet derived growth factor shifts the population balance toward the filamentous
type that produces more adenosine triphosphate than the other. In addition, the cells
show filamentous mitochondria during the process of cellular migration.
Furthermore, here we demonstrated that an inner membrane protein,
optic atrophy, is involved in the filamentous-rounded transition of the organelle.
We suggest that OPA1 confers longitudinal rigidity on the filamentous mitochondria.
Other cells such as breast cancer cells utilize small fragmented mitochondria, instead
of a filamentous form, in the migration process.
Regarding the apparent inconsistency with those other reports on the morphological
change upon the onset of cellular migration, we discuss communal feature of the regulation
of mitochondrial morphology in different cellular systems: all previous reports showed that
the organelle become slender or smaller in the energy-demanding activity.
The morphological balance of mitochondria is physiologically essential, which is ingeniously
maintained by the fission/fusion regulations. The morphological balance can be abruptly
changed upon cellular needs and/or environmental stimuli.1-5 Mitochondrial functions,
such as ATP synthesis, reactive oxygen species production, calcium regulation, hem-synthesis
and apoptotic induction, are closely coupled with the morphology of the organelle.
Dermatol Open J. 2016; 1(2): 38-41. doi: 10.17140/DRMTOJ-1-111
