Analysis of Mitochondrial Metabolism Control on Organism Development

Abstract

Mitochondria are energy-generating organelles of the cells – they produce most of the ATP required for various cellular processes. They also have dynamic morphology, and can under fusion and fission, generating structures which range from small and circular to long and reticular. The mitochondrial fission protein Drp1has been known to affect the fate of a cell during development via the different signalling pathways, such as EGF and Notch. Mitochondrial morphology proteins are likely to produce such effects by interplay with energy metabolism during development. I have used the Drosophila oogenesis as a model system to ascertain a link between mitochondrial morphology, metabolism and developmental signalling pathways. Drosophila mutants of the electron transport chain, CoVa in Complex IV and Pdsw in Complex I of the electron transport chain show that there is a change in mitochondrial organization and membrane potential in ovarian follicle cells. Notch mediated signalling is delayed in both follicle cells and bristle development in the adult fly. In addition there is an increase in polarized protein distribution on the plasma membrane in these metabolism mutant cells. Future studies on interactions between morphology and metabolism proteins will enable a study of interaction between morphology and metabolism mediated by the mitochondria.