2023/09/20 by Hideki Nakamura, Elmer Rho, Christopher T. Lee +10 · 1 voice · 1 citation
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Energy · #Algal biology and biofuel production #Cellular Mechanics and Interactions #Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
paper · pdf · doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113089
openalex publication_date 2023/09/20 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Form and function are often interdependent throughout biology. Inside cells, mitochondria have particularly attracted attention since both their morphology and functionality are altered under pathophysiological conditions. However, directly assessing their causal relationship has been beyond reach due to the limitations of manipulating mitochondrial morphology in a physiologically relevant manner. By engineering a bacterial actin regulator, ActA, we developed tools termed "ActuAtor" that inducibly trigger actin polymerization at arbitrary subcellular locations. The ActuAtor-mediated actin polymerization drives striking deformation and/or movement of target organelles, including mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, and nucleus. Notably, ActuAtor operation also disperses non-membrane-bound entities such as stress granules. We then implemented ActuAtor in functional assays, uncovering the physically fragmented mitochondria being slightly more susceptible to degradation, while none of the organelle functions tested are morphology dependent. The modular and genetically encoded features of ActuAtor should enable its application in studies of the form-function interplay in various intracellular contexts.