Mitochondrial networks have been shown to exhibit a variety of complex behaviors, including  cell-wide oscillations of mitochondrial energy states , as well as a phase transition  in response to oxidative stress. Since functional status and structural properties are often intertwined, in this work we look at the structural properties of URLanelle in normal mouse embryonic fibroblasts , describing its most relevant features . Subsequently we manipulated mitochondrial morphology using two interventions with opposite effects: over-expression of mitofusin 1, a protein that promotes mitochondria fusion , and paraquat treatment, a compound that induces mitochondrial fragmentation due to oxidative stress . Quantitative analysis of URLanelle's structural clusters revealed that healthy mitochondrial networks were in a status intermediate between the extremes of highly fragmented and completely fusioned networks. This was confirmed by a comparison of our empirical findings with those of a recently described computational model of network growth based on fusion-fission balance. These results , offer an objective methodology to parametrize the mitochondrial status under a variety of both physiological and pathological cellular conditions, and overall add weight to the fission-fusion model for the mitochondrial reticulum dynamics .
Mitochondrial networks exhibit a variety of complex behaviors, including coordinated cell-wide oscillations of energy states as well as a phase transition (depolarization) in response to oxidative stress. Since functional and structural properties are often interwinded, here we characterize the structure of mitochondrial networks in mouse embryonic fibroblasts using network tools and percolation theory . Subsequently we perturbed the system either by promoting the fusion of mitochondrial segments or by inducing mitochondrial fission . Quantitative analysis of mitochondrial clusters revealed that the structural parameters of healthy mitochondria lay in between the extremes of highly fragmented and completely fusioned networks. We confirmed our results by contrasting our emprirical findings with the predictions of a recently described computational model of mitochondrial network emergence based on fission-fusion kinetics. Altogether these results not only offer an objective methodology to parametrize the complexity of URLanelle but add weight to the idea that mitochondrial networks behave as critical systems and undergo structural phase transitions .
D
have been shown to
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coordinated
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mitochondrial energy states ,
energy states
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(depolarization)
D
status
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intertwined, in this work we look at the structural properties of URLanelle in normal
interwinded, here we characterize the structure of mitochondrial networks in
R
, describing its most relevant features
using network tools and percolation theory
R
manipulated mitochondrial morphology using two interventions with opposite effects: over-expression of mitofusin 1, a protein that promotes mitochondria fusion , and paraquat treatment, a compound that induces mitochondrial fragmentation due to oxidative stress
perturbed the system either by promoting the fusion of mitochondrial segments or by inducing mitochondrial fission
R
URLanelle's structural
mitochondrial
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healthy mitochondrial networks were in a status intermediate
the structural parameters of healthy mitochondria lay in
R
This was confirmed by a comparison of our empirical findings with those
We confirmed our results by contrasting our emprirical findings with the predictions
R
network growth based on fusion-fission balance. These results ,
mitochondrial network emergence based on fission-fusion kinetics. Altogether these results not only
R
mitochondrial status under a variety of both physiological and pathological cellular conditions, and overall
complexity of URLanelle but
R
fission-fusion model for the mitochondrial reticulum dynamics
idea that mitochondrial networks behave as critical systems and undergo structural phase transitions