The relationship between mitochondrial shape and function and the cytoskeleton

Mitochondria are crucial organelles for life and death of the cell. They are prominent players in energy conversion and integrated signaling pathways including regulation of Ca2+ signals and apoptosis. Their functional versatility is matched by their morphological plasticity and by their high mobility, allowing their transport at specialized cellular sites. This transport occurs by interactions with a variety of cytoskeletal proteins that also have the ability to influence shape and function of the organelle. A growing body of evidence suggests that mitochondria use cytoskeletal proteins as tracks for their movement; in turn, mitochondrial morphology and function is regulated via mostly uncharacterized pathways, by the cytoskeleton.