Membranes in motion: mitochondrial dynamics and their role in apoptosis

Mitochondrial dynamics is crucial for cell survival, development and homeostasis and impairment of these functions leads to neurologic disorders and metabolic diseases. The key components of mitochondrial dynamics have been identified. Mitofusins and OPA1 mediate mitochondrial fusion, whereas Drp1 is responsible for mitochondrial fission. In addition, an interplay between the proteins of the mitochondrial fission/fusion machinery and the Bcl-2 proteins, essential mediators in apoptosis, has been also described. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms regarding mitochondrial dynamics together with their role in apoptosis.