mito-QC illuminates mitophagy and mitochondrial architecture in vivo

TG McWilliams, AR Prescott, GFG Allen, J Tamjar… - Journal of Cell …, 2016 - rupress.org
TG McWilliams, AR Prescott, GFG Allen, J Tamjar, MJ Munson, C Thomson, MMK Muqit
Journal of Cell Biology, 2016rupress.org
Autophagic turnover of mitochondria, termed mitophagy, is proposed to be an essential
quality-control (QC) mechanism of pathophysiological relevance in mammals. However, if
and how mitophagy proceeds within specific cellular subtypes in vivo remains unclear,
largely because of a lack of tractable tools and models. To address this, we have developed
“mito-QC,” a transgenic mouse with a pH-sensitive fluorescent mitochondrial signal. This
allows the assessment of mitophagy and mitochondrial architecture in vivo. Using confocal …
Autophagic turnover of mitochondria, termed mitophagy, is proposed to be an essential quality-control (QC) mechanism of pathophysiological relevance in mammals. However, if and how mitophagy proceeds within specific cellular subtypes in vivo remains unclear, largely because of a lack of tractable tools and models. To address this, we have developed “mito-QC,” a transgenic mouse with a pH-sensitive fluorescent mitochondrial signal. This allows the assessment of mitophagy and mitochondrial architecture in vivo. Using confocal microscopy, we demonstrate that mito-QC is compatible with classical and contemporary techniques in histochemistry and allows unambiguous in vivo detection of mitophagy and mitochondrial morphology at single-cell resolution within multiple organ systems. Strikingly, our model uncovers highly enriched and differential zones of mitophagy in the developing heart and within specific cells of the adult kidney. mito-QC is an experimentally advantageous tool of broad relevance to cell biology researchers within both discovery-based and translational research communities.
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