Figure 2

The conserved activities of mitochondrial division, fusion, motility and tethering shape and position the dynamic mitochondrial network. The connectivity of the mitochondrial network is controlled by the antagonistic activities of mitochondrial division and fusion. Mitochondrial division and fusion serve to create a compartment that is a connected conductor, able to mix its contents and have access to mtDNA and its products, but able to be distributed to distant cellular destinations via motor-dependent transport on actin or microtubule networks. Once transported to areas of demand, tethers ensure mitochondria are retained at these cellular locations. In addition to creating transportable mitochondrial compartments, mitochondrial division can produce functionally asymmetric daughter mitochondria. Dysfunctional daughters (depicted in red) cannot re-fuse with the network and are flagged for autophagic degradation.