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Originally published in Science Express on 5 August 2004
Science 17 September 2004:
Vol. 305. no. 5691, pp. 1747 - 1752
DOI: 10.1126/science.1100612
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Research Articles

Mitochondrial Fusion Intermediates Revealed in Vitro

Shelly Meeusen,1 J. Michael McCaffery,2 Jodi Nunnari1*

The events that occur during the fusion of double-membraned mitochondria are unknown. As an essential step toward determining the mechanism of mitochondrial fusion, we have captured this event in vitro. Mitochondrial outer and inner membrane fusion events were separable and mechanistically distinct, but both required guanosine 5'-triphosphate hydrolysis. Homotypic trans interactions of the ancient outer transmembrane guanosine triphosphatase, Fzo1, were required to promote the fusion of mitochondrial outer membranes, whereas electrical potential was also required for fusion of inner membranes. Our conclusions provide fundamental insights into the molecular events driving mitochondrial fusion and advance our understanding of the evolution of mitochondrial fusion in eukaryotic cells.

1 Section of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center of Genetics and Development, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
2 Department of Biology and Integrated Imaging Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: jmnunnari{at}ucdavis.edu

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