Dynamic regulation of subcellular mitochondrial position for localized metabolite levels

Abstract

Mitochondria are not passive bystanders aimlessly floating throughout our cell's cytoplasm. Instead, mitochondria actively move, anchor, divide, fuse, self-destruct and transfer between cells in a coordinated fashion, all to ensure proper structure and position supporting cell function. The existence of the mitochondria in our cells has long been appreciated, but their dynamic nature and interaction with other subcellular compartments has only recently been fully realized with the advancement of high-resolution live-cell microscopy and improved fractionization techniques. The how and why that dictates positioning of mitochondria to specific subcellular sites is an ever-expanding research area. Furthermore, the advent of new and improved functional probes, sensitive to changes in subcellular metabolite levels has increased our understanding of local mitochondrial populations. In this review, we will address the evidence for intentional mitochondrial positioning in supporting subcellular mitochondrial metabolite levels, including calcium, adenosine triphosphate and reactive oxygen species and the role mitochondrial metabolites play in dictating cell outcomes.

Keywords: metabolite gradients; mitochondrial contacts; mitochondrial dynamics; reactive oxygen species.