Role for CED-9 and Egl-1 as regulators of mitochondrial fission and fusion dynamics

BcI-2 family proteins play central roles in apoptosis by regulating the release of mitochondrial intermembrane space proteins such as cytochrome c. Death-promoting BcI-2 family members, such as Bax, can promote cytochrome c release and fragmentation of the mitochondrial network, whereas apoptosis-inhibitory members, such as BcI-2 and Bcl-xL, can antagonize these events. It remains unclear whether CED-9, the worm BcI-2 relative, can regulate mitochondrial fission/fusion dynamics or the release of proteins from the mitochondrial intermembrane space. Here, we show that CED-9 interacts with Mitofusin-2/fuzzy onions and can promote mitochondrial clustering and dramatic reorganization of mitochondrial networks. Consistent with its ability to neutralize CED-9 function, EGL-1 antagonized CED-9-dependent remodeling of the mitochondrial network. However, CED-9 failed to inhibit mitochondrial cytochrome c release or apoptosis induced by diverse triggers in mammalian cells. These data suggest that the ability to regulate mitochondrial fission/fusion dynamics is an evolutionarily conserved property of the BcI-2 family.