PgmNr D1091: Crosstalk between mitochondrial fusion and the Hippo pathway in controlling cell proliferation during Drosophila development.

Authors:
Q. Deng 1,2 ; T. Guo 1,2 ; X. Zhou 2,3 ; Y. Xi 1,2 ; X. Yang 1,2 ; W. Ge 1,2


Institutes
1) Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou,China 310058; 2) College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China 310058; 3) Skate Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital,Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.


Keyword: tissue growth

Abstract:

Cell proliferation and tissue growth depend on the coordinated regulation of multiple signaling molecules and pathways during animal development. Previous studies have linked mitochondrial function and the Hippo signaling pathway in growth control. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Here we identify a Drosophila mitochondrial inner membrane protein ChChd3 as a novel regulator for tissue growth. Loss of ChChd3 leads to tissue undergrowth and cell proliferation defects. ChChd3 is required for mitochondrial fusion and removal of ChChd3 increases mitochondrial fragmentation. ChChd3 is another mitochondrial target of the Hippo pathway, although it is only partially required for Hippo pathway mediated overgrowth. Interestingly, lacking of ChChd3 leads to inactivation of Hippo activity under normal development, which is also dependent on the transcriptional co-activator Yorkie (Yki). In addition, depletion of two other mitochondrial fusion compoents, Opa1 and Marf, inactivates the Hippo pathway as well. Taken together, we propose that there is a crosstalk between mitochondrial fusion and the Hippo pathway which is essential in controlling cell proliferation and tissue homeostasis in Drosophila.