APVV-SK-FR-0021-11

Energetic cross-talk and cytoarchitecture of cardiac myocytes. Role of the mitochondrial protein OPA1.

Principal Investigator: Marta Novotová

Duration: January 2012 – December 2013
Coordinating Organization: Institute of Molecular Physiology and Genetics SAS, Bratislava

Annotation:

The objective of this collaboration is to understand the importance of the cytoarchitecture for energetic exchanges and for contractile efficiency. This project is aimed at correlating, during postnatal development in mice, the organization of cell architecture (quantified by electron microscopy) and functioning of energy cross-talks between organelles (measurement of calcium fluxes and contractility). This is a basic science study to explore relationships between cytoarchitecture, energy fluxes and contractility. A second part of the project will get further insight into the mitochondrial network organization in the adult cardiac cell and to investigate how and when its defects precipitate cardiomyocyte failure. Because mitochondrial dynamic is involved in mitochondrial biogenesis, apoptotic cell death, and mitochondrial function and autophagy, we hypothesize that the organization of the mitochondrial network participates in the high efficiency and integrity of mammalian adult cardiomyocyte and that its disruption precipitates energetic inefficiency and cardiac failure.

Keywords:

Heart, muscle, energetics, cytoarchitecture, ultrastructure, mitochondria

Objectives:

The aim of the present project is to get further insight into the mitochondrial network organization in the adult cardiac cell and to investigate how and when its defects precipitate cardiomyocyte failure. Because mitochondrial dynamic is involved in mitochondrial biogenesis, apoptotic cell death, and mitochondrial function and autophagy, we hypothesize that the organization of the mitochondrial network participates in the high efficiency and integrity of mammalian adult cardiomyocyte and that its disruption precipitates energetic inefficiency and cardiac failure.

Publications:

	Caffin F, Prola A, Piquereau J, Novotova M, David DJ, Garnier A, Fortin D, Alavi M, Veksler V, Ventura-Clapier R, Joubert F (2013): Altered skeletal muscle mitochondrial biogenesis but improved endurance capacity in trained OPA1-deficient mice. J Physiol 591: 6017-37.
	Piquereau J, Caffin F, Novotova M, Lemaire C, Veksler V, Garnier A, Ventura-Clapier R, Joubert F (2013): Mitochondrial dynamics in the adult cardiomyocytes: which roles for a highly specialized cell? Front Physiol 4: 102.