Investigating TNT-mediated mitochondrial transfer as a response to mitochondrial import failure

Mitochondria are membranous organelles that produce the major source of cellular energy. Mitochondrial energy production is dependent on proteins made in the cytosol and imported into the organelle.

When this import is blocked, energy production cannot occur which is highly damaging or even fatal to the cell and is linked to disease.

The Collinson Lab have recently discovered that cells respond to chronic mitochondrial import failure by forming thin cytoplasmic protrusions called tunnelling nanotubes (TNTs).

These TNTs connect neighbouring cells and allow mitochondrial transfer between healthy cells and cells with defective import to alleviate the import defect. My project aims to further investigate TNT-mediated mitochondrial transfer in response to import defects.

Improving our understanding of this phenomenon could inform the design of novel therapeutic strategies that exploit the connected systems of cells linked by TNTs.