{
  "abstract": "Crista junctions (CJs) are narrow infoldings of the inner mitochondrial membrane, serving as entry points into the cristae microenvironment. The mitochondrial contact site and cristae organizing system (MICOS) complex is a highly conserved protein machinery controlling CJ biogenesis and architecture, but its assembly mechanism driving CJ formation has remained unclear. By determining a crystal structure of a Chaetomium thermophilum Mic60-Mic19 complex and combining it with modelling and mutagenesis studies, we identify an extended helical region (EHR) of the Mic60 mitofilin domain and a further Mic19 helix as crucial elements of complex formation. In vitro cross-linking data and hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry resolve domain assembly and conformational dynamics of the Mic60 Mic19 subcomplex and point to the EHR as a molecular switch controlling Mic60 transition from a closed dimer to a Mic19-bound hetero-octamer. Our data provide a structural model for Mic60 activation and therefore MICOS assembly as a prerequisite for crista junction formation.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 15,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "O. Daumke"
    },
    {
      "name": "E. Nathanail"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. Ruwolt"
    },
    {
      "name": "G. Dornan"
    },
    {
      "name": "W. Y. Mikalo"
    },
    {
      "name": "D. E. Liu"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. Schiel"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. Tekgül"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. H. Lewis"
    },
    {
      "name": "K. von der Malsburg"
    },
    {
      "name": "T. Bock-Bierbaum"
    },
    {
      "name": "V. Haucke"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. Kunz"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. van der Laan"
    },
    {
      "name": "F. Liu"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/djwhn6j4wezxa.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.10.01.755917",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.01.755917v1.full",
  "id": "djwhn6j4wezxa",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.01.755917v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-ND",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "molecular biology"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1312|Mitochondrial Function and Pathology"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7220452673",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.01.755917v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-01",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/djwhn6j4wezxa.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:26:03Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.10.01.755917",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.01.755917v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "biorxiv:molecular biology",
      "subfield": "molecular-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Exploring the activation mechanism of the Mic60 subcomplex governing mitochondrial crista junctions",
  "title_text": "Exploring the activation mechanism of the Mic60 subcomplex governing mitochondrial crista junctions",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:26:03Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/djwhn6j4wezxa",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}