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<p>Mitochondrial biogenesis and inheritance must be tightly coordinated with cell division to maintain mitochondrial function and cell survival. The dynamics of the mitochondrial network, including fusion and fission, are essential for mitochondrial inheritance and quality control. In budding yeast, simultaneous inhibition of both processes compromises mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) integrity, increasing the frequency of petite cells. Loss of fusion alone completely eliminates mtDNA. Although this has been known for decades, why mtDNA is lost remained unclear. Here, we examine the effects of impaired mitochondrial fusion by depleting the mitofusin Fzo1. By analyzing over thirty thousand single cells across their cell cycles, we show that Fzo1-depletion induces rapid mitochondrial fragmentation and loss of membrane potential, followed by progressive declines in mtDNA content and growth rate. During division, Fzo1-depleted daughters inherit disproportionately large mitochondrial amounts, leaving mothers with too little. This imbalance, combined with an inability to upregulate compensatory mtDNA synthesis, drives rapid mtDNA loss. Our results reveal how fusion defects cause mtDNA loss and mitochondrial dysfunction, which might have implications for diseases linked to impaired fusion.</p>

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In the absence of mitochondrial fusion unequal segregation of mitochondria drives mtDNA loss

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月14日

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  • Lisa Dengler,
  • Francesco Padovani,
  • Bianca Lemke,
  • Rebecca Brugger,
  • Alissa Benedikt,
  • Benedikt Westermann,
  • Boris Maček,
  • Kurt M Schmoller,
  • Jennifer C Ewald

摘要

Mitochondrial biogenesis and inheritance must be tightly coordinated with cell division to maintain mitochondrial function and cell survival. The dynamics of the mitochondrial network, including fusion and fission, are essential for mitochondrial inheritance and quality control. In budding yeast, simultaneous inhibition of both processes compromises mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) integrity, increasing the frequency of petite cells. Loss of fusion alone completely eliminates mtDNA. Although this has been known for decades, why mtDNA is lost remained unclear. Here, we examine the effects of impaired mitochondrial fusion by depleting the mitofusin Fzo1. By analyzing over thirty thousand single cells across their cell cycles, we show that Fzo1-depletion induces rapid mitochondrial fragmentation and loss of membrane potential, followed by progressive declines in mtDNA content and growth rate. During division, Fzo1-depleted daughters inherit disproportionately large mitochondrial amounts, leaving mothers with too little. This imbalance, combined with an inability to upregulate compensatory mtDNA synthesis, drives rapid mtDNA loss. Our results reveal how fusion defects cause mtDNA loss and mitochondrial dysfunction, which might have implications for diseases linked to impaired fusion.