Mitochondria unite to survive

Starvation of animals or cells triggers autophagic degradation of cell contents to retrieve nutrients, but, paradoxically, mitochondria enlarge. This is now shown to result from inhibition of mitochondrial fission through PKA-mediated phosphorylation of the GTPase DRP1. Elongation of mitochondria optimizes ATP production and spares them from autophagy-mediated destruction.