Figure 3. Relationship of mitochondrial dynamism to mitophagy.
Mitochondria accumulate damage over time. Impaired (partially depolarized) mitochondrion divides into one depolarized daughter and one hyperpolarized daughter through asymmetric fission. The depolarized daughter is eliminated via Mfn2-Parkin-mediated mitophagy and the hyperpolarized daughter re-joins the functional mitochondrial pool through organelle fusion. Healthy mitochondria (hyperpolarized) are colored in green and damaged mitochondria (depolarized) in yellow.