Atypical mitochondrial fission upon bacterial infection
Abstract
Mitochondria are dynamic organelles that constantly fuse and fragment while acting as central hubs of energy production, apoptosis regulation, and Ca++ signaling, therefore emerging as potential targets of pathogens. We previously showed that the foodborne bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes interferes with the dynamics and function of the host cell mitochondrial network via the bacterial toxin listeriolysin O (LLO). In this study, we analyze the effects of LLO on key players known to be involved in mitochondrial dynamics and show that the fission protein dynamin-like protein 1 (Drp1) is not essential for LLO-induced fragmentation of the mitochondrial network, whereas the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) plays an important role, suggesting a unique Drp1-independent and ER-dependent mechanism that is different from the canonical fission machinery.
- Publication:
-
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
- Pub Date:
- October 2013
- DOI:
- 10.1073/pnas.1315784110
- Bibcode:
- 2013PNAS..11016003S