Escobar-Henriques, Mafalda - assoc. RG 70

In eukaryotic cells, biochemical processes occur in specialized membrane-enclosed compartments - organelles - whose integrity must be preserved to ensure cellular health. Recently, it was discovered that mitochondria - the cellular power plants – establish physical contacts with a myriad of other organelles, with crucial functional implications. In particular, mitochondria are tethered to the endoplasmic reticulum, peroxisomes, lysosomes, to the plasma membrane and to themselves.

Mitochondria are very dynamic organelles that constantly fuse and divide in order to maintain a healthy network within the cell.

In our group we study mitochondrial fusion. This process is carried out by mitofusins, which are dynamin-related large GTPases located at the outer membrane of mitochondria, facing the cytoplasm. Mammals have two homologous mitofusins, Mfn1 and Mfn2, and the yeast mitofusin is called Fzo1.

For more information, please visit the Website of the Escobar Lab. 

• Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC)
• CECAD Research Center
• Institute for Genetics
• CRC 1218