Mitochondria (green) are fragmented if l-Mgm1 and s-Mgm1 levels are uneven (right).
Mgm1 can be found in the mitochondrial intermembrane space in two forms, the shorter of which (s-Mgm1) is generated by protease cleavage of the long form (l-Mgm1). The authors find that a balance between the two forms maintains mitochondrial morphology—deviation from a 1:1 ratio in either direction causes fragmentation. Although little is known about Mgm1 function, this need for balance might be explained if s- and l-Mgm1 work as heterodimers.
Balanced production of the two forms depends on a hydrophobic stretch in l-Mgm1 following the targeting sequence. Mutations that further increased its hydrophobicity favored production of the...
The Rockefeller University Press
2004
The Rockefeller University Press
2004
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