FEBS Letters
Volume 583, Issue 9 , Pages 1391-1398, 6 May 2009

The Miro GTPases: At the heart of the mitochondrial transport machinery

Edited by Peter Brzezinski

  • Katarina Reis

      Affiliations

    • Department of Microbiology, Tumour and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, Box 280, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
    • ,
  • Åsa Fransson

      Affiliations

    • Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Box 595, SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
    • ,
  • Pontus Aspenström

      Affiliations

    • Department of Microbiology, Tumour and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, Box 280, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Fax: +46 8 330498.

Received 2 March 2009; received in revised form 6 April 2009; accepted 7 April 2009. published online 17 April 2009.

Abstract 

Mitochondria are organelles of elaborate structure that in addition to supplying cellular energy, have significant roles in calcium homeostasis and apoptosis. Failure to maintain mitochondrial dynamics results in neurodegenerative diseases and neuromuscular pathologies. The Miro GTPases, which constitute a unique subgroup of the Ras superfamily, have emerged as essential regulators of mitochondrial morphogenesis and trafficking along microtubules. Miro GTPases function as calcium-dependent sensors in the control of mitochondrial motility. Increased awareness of the biological function of Miro GTPases can contribute to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying diseases caused by deregulated mitochondrial dynamics.

Keywords: Miro, GTPase, Milton, Mitochondrion, Microtubule

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PII: S0014-5793(09)00295-6

doi:10.1016/j.febslet.2009.04.015

FEBS Letters
Volume 583, Issue 9 , Pages 1391-1398, 6 May 2009

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