Mitochondria: The Cellular Hub of the Dynamic Coordinated Network

Mitochondria are the powerhouses of the eukaryotic cell. After billions of years of evolution, mitochondria have adaptively integrated into the symbiont. Such integration is not only evidenced by the consolidation of genetic information, that is, the transfer of most mitochondrial genes into the nucleus, but also manifested by the functional recombination by which mitochondria participate seamlessly in various cellular processes. In the past decade, the field of mitochondria biology has been focused on the dynamic and interactive features of these semiautonomous organelles. Aspects of a complex multilayer quality control system coordinating mitochondrial function and environmental changes are being uncovered and refined. This Forum summarizes the recent progress of these critical topics, with a focus on the dynamic quality control of mitochondrial reticulum, including their biogenesis, dynamic remodeling, and degradation, as well as the homeostasis of the mitochondrial proteome. These diverse but interconnected mechanisms are found to be critical in the maintenance of a functional, efficient, and responsive mitochondrial population and could therefore become therapeutic targets in numerous mitochondrion-implicated disorders.