Mitocytosis, a migrasome-mediated mitochondrial quality-control process

Damaged mitochondria need to be cleared to maintain the quality of the mitochondrial pool. Here, we report mitocytosis, a migrasome-mediated mitochondrial quality-control process. We found that, upon exposure to mild mitochondrial stresses, damaged mitochondria are transported into migrasomes and subsequently disposed of from migrating cells. Mechanistically, mitocytosis requires positioning of damaged mitochondria at the cell periphery, which occurs because damaged mitochondria avoid binding to inward motor proteins. Functionally, mitocytosis plays an important role in maintaining mitochondrial quality. Enhanced mitocytosis protects cells from mitochondrial stressor-induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and mitochondrial respiration; conversely, blocking mitocytosis causes loss of MMP and mitochondrial respiration under normal conditions. Physiologically, we demonstrate that mitocytosis is required for maintaining MMP and viability in neutrophils in vivo. We propose that mitocytosis is an important mitochondrial quality-control process in migrating cells, which couples mitochondrial homeostasis with cell migration.

Automated summary

Mitocytosis is a migrasome-mediated mitochondrial quality-control process that helps maintain mitochondrial quality in migrating cells. The process involves positioning damaged mitochondria at the cell periphery, which avoids binding to inward motor proteins. Enhanced mitocytosis protects cells from mitochondrial stressor-induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and mitochondrial respiration, while blocking mitocytosis causes loss of these functions under normal conditions. Physiologically, mitocytosis is required for maintaining mitochondrial membrane potential and viability in neutrophils in vivo.