Abstracts


Live-cell super resolution microscopy of mitochondrial dynamics

Tatjana Kleele

ETH Zuerich, Department of Biology, Institute of Biochemistry, Otto-Stern-Weg 3, 8093 Zürich [CH], tatjana.kleele@biol.ethz.ch

Author(s):
Tatjana Kleele

Mitochondria perform a multitude of metabolic, biosynthetic and signaling functions. While initially perceived as isolated, static organelles, convergent advances in light microscopy revealed that mitochondria form an interconnected network, communicate with other organelles and rapidly modulate their structure. Mitochondrial morphology is shaped by opposing events of fission and fusion, which are tightly regulated. Disruptions in these processes can lead to bioenergetic defects and are linked to a variety of human diseases. But despite the inevitable link between mitochondrial structure and function, it remains unclear how these organelles integrate cellular cues to remodel their network structure, consequently adjusting their function. Broadly, our group investigates how mitochondria are dynamically remodeled to support cellular metabolism and tissue specific functions. For this we employ a range of super-resolution microscopy techniques, automated AI-based data analysis, combined with different model systems, including bone marrow derived macrophages and iPSC derived neurons. Using this approach, we investigate how mitochondria are dynamically remodeled in different metabolic conditions, during cell state transitions as well as during neuronal differentiation and maturation. Moreover, we are currently developing a super-resolution based imaging screen to identify novel protein kinases regulating mitochondrial fission and fusion.

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