Feedback regulation of mitochondrial homeostasis via Wnt/beta-catenin signaling

Cellular abundance of mitochondria is dynamically regulated. We could recently show that dysfunctional mitochondria release the phosphatase PGAM family member 5 (PGAM5) into the cytosol, where it interacts with the Wnt signaling-component AXIN1 and dephosphorylates AXIN1 -bound /J-catenin (CTNNB1) thereby activating Wnt/beta-catenin signaling. Because Wnt/beta-catenin signaling induces mitochondrial biogenesis dysfunctional mitochondria trigger their own replacement by releasing PGAM5.