Available online 31 October 2023

Mitochondrial fission in C. elegans is mediated by DRP-1 and aided by FIS-1/2 and MFF-1/2.

Inner and outer membrane fusion is facilitated by EAT-3 and FZO-1, respectively.

Mitochondrial dynamics are critical for maintaining organismal homeostasis.

C. elegans is used to study dynamics during development, ageing, and disease.

If mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cell, then mitochondrial dynamics are the power grid that regulates how that energy output is directed and maintained in response to unique physiological demands. Fission and fusion dynamics are highly regulated processes that fine-tune the mitochondrial networks of cells to enable appropriate responses to intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli, thereby maintaining cellular and organismal homeostasis. These dynamics shape many aspects of an organism’s healthspan including development, longevity, stress resistance, immunity, and response to disease. In this review, we discuss the latest findings regarding the mechanisms and roles of mitochondrial dynamics by focussing on the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Whole live-animal studies in C. elegans have enabled a true organismal-level understanding of the impact that mitochondrial dynamics play in homeostasis over a lifetime.

Fission

Fusion

Longevity

Quality-control

Development

Disease

© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.