Role of mitochondrial dynamics and activity in regulating epithelial cell remodeling?

Abstract

Mitochondria are famously known as the powerhouse of the cell and play an important role in regulating the production of ATP, reactive oxygen species, metabolites and buffering calcium for various activities in a eukaryotic cell. Epithelial cell differentiation accompanies the formation of elaborate and active mitochondria. Mitochondrial dynamics involves fusion and fission and occurs with the help of the Dynamin family of GTPases. Here we aimed to study the role of mitochondrial dynamics and activity in regulating follicle epithelial cell shape remodelling in Drosophila oogenesis. Follicle cells are known to change shape from cuboidal to squamous due to increase in cytoplasmic pressure generated in the form of a gradient by the underlying germ cells. In contrast, the cells in the central and posterior region transit from cuboidal to columnar. We found that when mitochondrial fusion and fission is depleted in follicle cells, there is an alteration in cell shape remodelling in follicle cells. Future studies will allow us to understand the mechanisms by which this epithelial cell remodelling is affected in follicle cells.