New frontiers in mitochondrial cell biology

Our lab investigates the molecular mechanisms and regulation of mitochondrial dynamics, including fusion, fission and the generation of mitochondrial derived vesicles. An outstanding question in the field has been the physiological regulation and meaning of mitochondrial plasticity. Our work and others has led to a new appreciation for the importance of mitochondrial dynamics in quality control, but also in signalling pathways that link the mitochondria to various processes from cell death to cell cycle and even bile acid production. In this seminar I will outline our most recent work into the meaning of mitochondrial dynamics with a focus on the many challenges that remain.