ER-associated mitochondrial division links the distribution of mitochondria and mitochondrial DNA in yeast

• Published in: eLife Vol. 2; p. e00422
• Main Authors: Murley, Andrew, Lackner, Laura L, Osman, Christof, West, Matthew, Voeltz, Gia K, Walter, Peter, Nunnari, Jodi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England eLife Sciences Publications Ltd 14-05-2013; eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd
• Subjects: Cell Biology; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA, Fungal - metabolism; DNA, Mitochondrial - metabolism; Endoplasmic Reticulum - metabolism; ERMES; Gem1; Guanosine triphosphatases; Mammals; Medical imaging; Miro; Mitochondria; Mitochondria - metabolism; Mitochondrial DNA; Mitochondrial Dynamics; Multiprotein Complexes; Nucleoids; Proteins; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - genetics; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - metabolism; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins - genetics; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins - metabolism; Signal Transduction; Software; Spatial discrimination; Gem1; ERMES; Miro; mitochondria; mitochondrial DNA; S. cerevisiae
• ISSN: 2050-084X; 2050-084X
• DOI: 10.7554/elife.00422

Mitochondrial division is important for mitochondrial distribution and function. Recent data have demonstrated that ER-mitochondria contacts mark mitochondrial division sites, but the molecular basis and functions of these contacts are not understood. Here we show that in yeast, the ER-mitochondria tethering complex, ERMES, and the highly conserved Miro GTPase, Gem1, are spatially and functionally linked to ER-associated mitochondrial division. Gem1 acts as a negative regulator of ER-mitochondria contacts, an activity required for the spatial resolution and distribution of newly generated mitochondrial tips following division. Previous data have demonstrated that ERMES localizes with a subset of actively replicating mitochondrial nucleoids. We show that mitochondrial division is spatially linked to nucleoids and that a majority of these nucleoids segregate prior to division, resulting in their distribution into newly generated tips in the mitochondrial network. Thus, we postulate that ER-associated division serves to link the distribution of mitochondria and mitochondrial nucleoids in cells. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00422.001.