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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2011 Sep 19.
Published in final edited form as: Cell Calcium. 2008 Apr 18;44(1):24–35. doi: 10.1016/j.ceca.2007.12.004

Figure 4. Mitochondrial Fission and Fusion.

Figure 4

In yeast, mitochondria fission involves the action of Dmn1, that can self assemble into polymeric spirals and is recruited into the mitochondrial membrane by Fis1 and Mdv1. Dmn1 polymers wrap around the organelle and constrict the membrane until fission occurs. In humans, Drp1 and hFis1 are the homologs of Dmn1 and Fis1 whereas no homolog of Mdv1 has been found yet. Mitochondrial fusion involves the interaction of Fzo1/Ugo1 molecules located in the outer membrane of two mitochondria until outer membrane fuses, and then inner membrane fusion occurs through the interaction of Mgm1 molecules. In mammals, there are two homologs of Fzo1, the mitofusins 1 and 2 (Mfn1 and Mfn2) whereas the homolog of Mgm1 is OPA1. MIM, mitochondrial inner membrane: MOM, mitochondrial outer membrane. See text for more details. The cartoon is based on models described in reference [80].