Proposed model for the control of cellular stability and plasticity via the reciprocal interaction of the p53/p21 and Mfn1/2 pathways. Depletion of Mfn1/2 promoted somatic cell reprogramming (top), which increases plasticity, allowing reprogramming barriers, such as mitochondrial fusion, cell cycle arrest, and/or failure of metabolic reprogramming, to be overcome (bottom)