REVIEW: Mitochondrial Fission and Fusion

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M. V. Patrushev^1,2*, I. O. Mazunin², E. N. Vinogradova¹, and P. A. Kamenski^1,2*

¹Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology, 119991 Moscow, Russia; fax: +7 (495) 939-4309; E-mail: piotr.kamenski@gmail.com

²Immanuil Kant Baltic Federal University, Institute of Chemistry and Biology, 236038 Kaliningrad, Russia; fax: +7 (4012) 595-595; E-mail: maxpatrushev@gmail.com

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received July 6, 2015; Revision received July 22, 2015

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Mitochondria are key cellular organelles responsible for many different functions. The molecular biology of mitochondria is continuously subject to comprehensive studies. However, detailed mechanisms of mitochondrial biogenesis are still unclear. Fusion and fission are among the most enigmatic processes connected with mitochondria. On the other hand, it has been shown that these events are of great biological importance for functioning of living cells. In this review, we summarize existing molecular data on mitochondrial dynamics and discuss possible biological functions of fusion and fission of these organelles.

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KEY WORDS: mitochondria, fusion, fission

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297915110061

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