Unconventional model organisms bend our view on mitochondrial cristae - PubMed
5 days ago
- #mitochondrial cristae
- #eukaryotic diversity
- #parasitic diseases
- Cristae are convolutions of the inner mitochondrial membrane, increasing surface area for respiratory chain complexes and ATP synthases.
- Research on cristae structure has mainly focused on opisthokont model organisms like yeast and animals, leaving much of eukaryotic diversity unexplored.
- This review highlights cristae formation and maintenance in Euglenozoa and Alveolata, including clinically important parasites like Trypanosoma brucei, Toxoplasma gondii, and Plasmodium falciparum.
- Plasmodium falciparum shows de novo cristae formation after an acristate life cycle stage, unique among studied organisms.
- Key players in crista curvature include ATP synthase, MICOS (mitochondrial contact site and cristae organizing system), and cardiolipin.
- The review compares findings from divergent organisms to propose a general model of crista formation applicable across eukaryotes.