Work

Mitochondrial position responds to glucose stimulation in a model of the pancreatic beta cell

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The compartmentalization of eukaryotic cells into membrane-bound organelles with specific subcellular positioning enables precise spatial and temporal control of cellular functions. Although functionally significant mitochondrial localization has been demonstrated in cells such as neurons, it remains unclear how general these cell principles are. Here, we examine the spatial organization of mitochondria within MIN6 pancreatic beta cells under variable glucose conditions. We observe glucose-dependent redistributions of mitochondria, favoring peripheral localization at elevated glucose levels. Our results, formalized into a stochastic model of mitochondrial trafficking, suggest that active mitochondrial transport along microtubules and PKA signaling activity, but not ATP synthesis, are critical regulators of this redistribution. These results suggest that environmentally responsive mitochondrial subcellular positioning may represent a general regulatory mechanism in even nonpolarized cell types.

Source: Biophysical Journal

DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2025.11.018

Authors: Luis Perez, Xue Wen Ng, Michael Mohs, David W. Piston, Shankar Mukherji

Institution: Washington University in St. Louis

Language: English

Topic: Mitochondrial Function and Pathology

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,000

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases