Characterization of lipid metabolic machines within mitochondria

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Mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell. Their functionality depends on a very precise architecture that is defined by 4 biochemically distinct compartments. From outside to in, these compartments are: 1) the outer membrane, 2) the inter-membrane space, 3) the inner membrane, and 4) the matrix. It is becoming increasingly evident that several elegant mechanisms exist to maintain the fidelity of this essential organelle. My lab has had a long-standing interest in understanding mitochondrial dynamics, the ongoing membrane fusion and fission reactions, that are important for many cell biological outcomes. More recently, we have become interested in the basic architecture of the mitochondrial inner membrane, and how it may be related to lipid-dynamics between the inner and outer membranes. It is our hypothesis that lipid metabolism in the inner membrane is orchestrated by very precise machineries that are carefully organized into sub-domains concentrated at the inner membrane folds called cristae. Indeed, we have initial evidence that shows cardiolipin (CL) and phosphatidylserine (PS) metabolism is co-ordinated by large enzyme complexes and that these metabolic enzymes alter mitochondrial biology.***We propose to: 1) Understand how lipid metabolism is linked to mitochondrial morphology; 2) Identify and characterize the components of the lipid metabolic complex; and 3) Characterize the function of the lipid metabolic complex in mitochondrial quality control.***This NSERC-funded program will provide the framework to train several HQP, most notably, two PDFs, two graduate students, and several undergraduate students including one summer student (each summer) and at least one undergraduate per university annual semester (10 minimum in total) for the duration of the funding period.**