Mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell, are dynamic organelles that undergo constant morphological changes. Increasing evidence indicates that mitochondria morphologies and functions can be modulated by mechanical cues. However, the mechano-sensing and -responding properties of mitochondria and the correlation between mitochondrial morphologies and functions are unclear due to the lack of methods to precisely exert mechano-stimulation on and deform mitochondria inside live cells. Here we present an optogenetic approach that uses light to induce deformation of mitochondria by recruiting molecular motors to the outer mitochondrial membrane via light-activated protein-protein hetero-dimerization. Mechanical forces generated by motor proteins distort the outer membrane, during which the inner mitochondrial membrane can also be deformed. Moreover, this optical method can achieve subcellular spatial precision and be combined with other optical dimerizers and molecular motors. This method presents a novel mitochondria-specific mechano-stimulator for studying mitochondria mechanobiology and the interplay between mitochondria shapes and functions.

中文翻译：

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活细胞中线粒体的光诱导变形

线粒体是细胞的动力源，是不断发生形态变化的动态细胞器。越来越多的证据表明，线粒体的形态和功能可以通过机械提示来调节。然而，由于缺乏精确地对活细胞内部的线粒体施加机械刺激并使其变形的方法，线粒体的机械感测和响应特性以及线粒体形态和功能之间的相关性尚不清楚。在这里，我们提出了一种光遗传学方法，该方法通过光激活的蛋白质-蛋白质异源二聚体将分子马达募集到线粒体外膜上，从而利用光诱导线粒体变形。运动蛋白产生的机械力会使外膜变形，在此期间，线粒体内膜也可能变形。此外，这种光学方法可以实现亚细胞空间精度，并且可以与其他光学二聚体和分子马达相结合。该方法提出了一种新颖的线粒体特异性机械刺激剂，用于研究线粒体的力学生物学以及线粒体形状和功能之间的相互作用。