Power2: The power of yeast genetics applied to the powerhouse of the cell

• Studies in yeast have identified key players in mitochondrial OXPHOS assembly.
• Yeast was instrumental in identifying mitochondrial metabolite transporters.
• Numerous players in mitochondrial lipid metabolism were first identified in yeast.
• Mitochondrion–vacuole crosstalk is an emerging area of mitochondrial biology.

The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has served as a remarkable model organism for numerous seminal discoveries in biology. This paradigm extends to the mitochondria, a central hub for cellular metabolism, where studies in yeast have helped to reinvigorate the field and launch an exciting new era in mitochondrial biology. Here we discuss a few recent examples in which yeast research has laid a foundation for our understanding of evolutionarily conserved mitochondrial processes and functions, from key factors and pathways involved in the assembly of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complexes to metabolite transport, lipid metabolism, and interorganelle communication. We also highlight new areas of yeast mitochondrial biology that are likely to aid in our understanding of the mitochondrial etiology of disease in the future.