Mitochondrial Dynamics and Longevity

Mitochondria are the main fuel producers in our cells, and exist as a dynamic network that can alternate between a fused and fragmented state depending upon age, nutrient conditions and damage. Growing evidence links the dynamic state of mitochondrial networks to metabolic efficiency. We have shown that neural CRTC-1 drives mitochondrial fission cell non autonomously in other tissues, inhibiting mitochondrial metabolism and modulating lifespan. Furthermore, we demonstrated a key ancestral role for the circadian regulator Bmal1/AHA-1 in C. elegans is promoting longevity via fusion of mitochondrial networks.