Mitochondrial F1F0-ATP synthase and organellar internal architecture

Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2009 Oct;41(10):1783-9. doi: 10.1016/j.biocel.2009.01.011. Epub 2009 Jan 24.

Abstract

The mitochondrial F(1)F(0)-ATP synthase adopts supramolecular structures. The interaction domains between monomers involve components belonging to the F(0) domains. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, alteration of these components destabilizes the oligomeric structures, leading concomitantly to the appearance of monomeric species of ATP synthase and anomalous mitochondrial morphologies in the form of onion-like structures. The mitochondrial ultrastructure at the cristae level is thus modified. Electron microscopy on cross-sections of wild type mitochondria display many short cristae with narrowed intra-cristae space, whereas yeast mutants defected in supramolecular ATP synthases assembly present a low number of large lamellar cristae of constant thickness and traversing the whole organelle. The growth of these internal structures leads finally to mitochondria with sphere-like structures with a mean diameter of 1 microm that are easily identified by epifluorescence microscopy. As a result, ATP synthase is an actor of the mitochondrial ultrastructure in yeast. This paper reviews the ATP synthase components whose modifications lead to anomalous mitochondrial morphology and also provides a schema showing the formation of the so-called onion-like structures.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Mitochondria / enzymology*
  • Mitochondria / ultrastructure*
  • Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases / genetics
  • Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / enzymology
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / ultrastructure

Substances

  • F1F0-ATP synthase
  • Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases