Recombinant Drosophila melanogaster Transmembrane protein 11 homolog, mitochondrial (Pmi)

Overview of Recombinant Drosophila melanogaster Transmembrane Protein 11 Homolog, Mitochondrial (Pmi)

Recombinant Drosophila melanogaster Transmembrane protein 11 homolog, mitochondrial (Pmi), also known as Protein PMI, is a protein that, in Drosophila, is encoded by the PMI gene . The human ortholog of Pmi is TMEM11 . Pmi and TMEM11 are inner membrane proteins that regulate mitochondrial morphogenesis, independently of the DRP-1/MFN-1 pathways .

Basic Information

Function and Significance

Drosophila Pmi and its human ortholog TMEM11 are regulators of mitochondrial morphogenesis . Mitochondria are dynamic organelles that change in morphology during the cell cycle, development, or in response to extracellular stimuli . These morphological dynamics are controlled by a balance between fusion and fission pathways .

Key findings regarding the function and significance of Pmi/TMEM11:

• Regulation of Mitochondrial Shape: PMI is involved in shaping the mitochondrial network in Drosophila. PMI-mutant cells have a condensed mitochondrial network, suggesting that PMI may have a pro-fission or anti-fusion function . TMEM11 regulates mitochondrial shape in human cells. Reduction of TMEM11 levels results in a condensation of the mitochondrial network with a loss of tubular shape .

• Independence from DRP1/MFN Pathways: PMI shapes mitochondria through a mechanism independent of drp1 and mfn, indicating that mitochondrial networks can be shaped by separate pathways: one PMI-dependent and one DRP1/MFN-dependent .

• Inner-membrane Localization: Both Drosophila PMI and human TMEM11 are located in the inner mitochondrial membrane . Electron microscopy and proteolysis assays confirmed the inner-membrane localization of PMI and TMEM11 .

• Interaction with Other Proteins: In mammals, TMEM11 interacts with BNIP3, a Bcl2-like stress sensor that affects mitochondrial morphology and regulates mitophagy, cell death, or survival in response to hypoxia and infection . In Drosophila, Pmi is transcribed from a bi-cistronic locus that also encodes PGRP-LD, a microbial-recognition protein .

Role in Mitochondrial Dynamics

Mitochondrial dynamics involve continuous fission and fusion, essential for maintaining mitochondrial function and adapting to cellular needs .

• TMEM11 regulates mitochondrial morphology in human cells: Reduction of TMEM11 levels leads to a condensation of the mitochondrial network and a loss of tubular shape .

• TMEM11's effect on mitochondrial morphology differs from that of DRP1 and OPA1: DRP1 knockdown results in a less pronounced condensation of the mitochondrial network, while OPA1-depleted cells have smaller and more numerous spherical mitochondria, indicative of mitochondrial fragmentation .

Recombinant Protein Details

Recombinant Drosophila melanogaster Transmembrane protein 11 homolog, mitochondrial (Pmi) is available as a recombinant protein for research purposes .

• It is produced in yeast .

• The protein is available in both liquid and lyophilized forms .

• It is recommended to reconstitute the protein in deionized sterile water and store it with glycerol at -20°C/-80°C for long-term storage .

Drosophila melanogaster as a Model System

Drosophila melanogaster serves as a valuable model organism in biological research, including the study of mitochondrial biology .