Mitochondrial network size scaling in budding yeast

Science. 2012 Nov 9;338(6108):822-4. doi: 10.1126/science.1225720.

Abstract

Mitochondria must grow with the growing cell to ensure proper cellular physiology and inheritance upon division. We measured the physical size of mitochondrial networks in budding yeast and found that mitochondrial network size increased with increasing cell size and that this scaling relation occurred primarily in the bud. The mitochondria-to-cell size ratio continually decreased in aging mothers over successive generations. However, regardless of the mother's age or mitochondrial content, all buds attained the same average ratio. Thus, yeast populations achieve a stable scaling relation between mitochondrial content and cell size despite asymmetry in inheritance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • G1 Phase
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Mitochondria / metabolism*
  • Mitochondria / ultrastructure*
  • Mitochondrial Size*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / cytology
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / growth & development*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / ultrastructure*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Ypt11 protein, S cerevisiae
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins