Predictive Modelling of Mitochondrial Spatial Structure and Health

Abstract

Mitochondria are mobile cellular organelles that form networks by fusion and fission. These events lead to an exchange of components responsible for maintaining membrane potential, i.e. mitochondrial health. Membrane potential can be disturbed by an imbalance of fission-triggering proteins. We expand an existing computational model of fusing and splitting mitochondria by representations of fission protein 1 (Fis1) and dynamin related protein 1 (Drp1) and perform parameter scans on simulations of it. Our relatively basic model already shows an effect of lower Fis1 and Drp1 recruitment rates, i.e. lower availability, on network structure and overall health. Various aspects of the real system can be incorporated into model, e.g. further regulatory proteins, a varying spatial distribution of Fis1 and Drp1, or consequences of changed mitochondrial network structure and health on their behaviour, e.g. under oxidative stress.