Mitochondrial division: molecular machinery and physiological functions

Mitochondrial division has emerged as a key mechanism for this essential organelle to maintain its structural integrity, intracellular distribution, and functional competence. An evolutionarily conserved dynamin-related GTPase, Dnm1p/Drp1, interacts with other proteins to form the core machinery involved in mitochondrial division. We summarize recent progress in understanding how the division machinery assembles onto mitochondria and how mitochondrial division contributes to cellular physiology and human diseases.

► Mitochondrial division controls mitochondrial structure, function and distribution.
► Dnm1p/Drp1 forms the core machinery for mitochondrial division.
► We summarize the assembly of the division machinery and its physiological functions.