Mitochondrial Fission, Fusion, and Stress

Abstract

Mitochondrial Dynamics: Mitochondria—the powerhouses of the cell—are autonomous organelles with their own genomes. Within cells, mitochondria are remarkably dynamic, continually moving around the cytoplasm and undergoing fusion and fission reactions. Youle and van der Bliek (p. 1062 ) review the importance of mitochondrial fusion and fission in cellular responses to stress, interference with which are likely to play an important role in a variety of diseases including Parkinson's disease. In their Perspective, Hoppins and Nunnari explain that the endoplasmic reticulum is an active participant in mitochondrial division and discuss how mitochondrial dynamics and cell death are linked.