Abstract

Over the past two decades, alterations in mitochondrial ultrastructure and morphology, as well as the interactions between mitochondria and other cellular organelles, have been increasingly recognized as key regulators of numerous physiological and pathological processes, including apoptosis, inflammation, differentiation, and tumorigenesis. Despite these advances, the precise role of mitochondrial dynamics and organelle interactions in orchestrating complex cellular responses, both under physiological conditions and in the face of reversible or irreversible cellular damage, remains incompletely understood. We will discuss key experiments that illuminated the contribution of mitochondrial shape, ultrastructure, and inter-organelle communication to cell physiology and disease. We will also present our recent work aimed at identifying the unresolved questions in the field of mitochondrial dynamics and contact sites regulation.