How mitochondrial heterogeneity fuels a dynamic organelle ecosystem
Abstract
Mitochondria are traditionally viewed as a homogeneous network supporting cellular energy production. However, increasing evidence reveals substantial heterogeneity across biological scales, from intramitochondrial microdomains to specialised mitochondrial populations within cells and tissues. These subpopulations differ in morphology, metabolism, bioenergetics, and spatial organisation, reflecting adaptation to local functional demands. In this Review, we discuss the mechanisms underlying mitochondrial heterogeneity, the emerging concept of mitochondrial subclasses, their functional integration within cellular metabolism, and the challenge of distinguishing stable subclasses from transient states. We propose a shift from a network-based view toward a dynamic mitochondrial ecosystem with important implications for physiology and disease.
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BibTeX
@article{desmaison2026mitochondrial,
title = {{How mitochondrial heterogeneity fuels a dynamic organelle ecosystem}},
author = {Pierre-Jean Desmaison and Giulia Bertolin},
journal = {Communications Biology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1038/s42003-026-11029-7},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05778589v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - How mitochondrial heterogeneity fuels a dynamic organelle ecosystem
AU - Pierre-Jean Desmaison
AU - Giulia Bertolin
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/05
JO - Communications Biology
DO - 10.1038/s42003-026-11029-7
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05778589v1
AB - Mitochondria are traditionally viewed as a homogeneous network supporting cellular energy production. However, increasing evidence reveals substantial heterogeneity across biological scales, from intramitochondrial microdomains to specialised mitochondrial populations within cells and tissues. These subpopulations differ in morphology, metabolism, bioenergetics, and spatial organisation, reflecting adaptation to local functional demands. In this Review, we discuss the mechanisms underlying mitochondrial heterogeneity, the emerging concept of mitochondrial subclasses, their functional integration within cellular metabolism, and the challenge of distinguishing stable subclasses from transient states. We propose a shift from a network-based view toward a dynamic mitochondrial ecosystem with important implications for physiology and disease.
SN - 2399-3642
ER -