CIBSS - Centre for integrative Biological Signalling Studies CIBSS

Mitochondria contact lipid droplets through the mitochondrial import complex binding to lipid metabolism enzyme Ayr1

Heinen S, Tiku V, Grevel A, Hugenroth M, Ellenrieder L, Steymans I, Licheva M, Bonini S, Oeljeklaus S, Okon N, Lambertz J, Poppe S, Song J, Fester L, Meisinger C, Warscheid B, Eckhardt M, Wiedemann N, Winter D, Kraft C, den Brave F, Bohnert M, Pfanner N, Becker T.

Nat Cell Biol. 2026; doi: 10.1038/s41556-026-01890-3. Online ahead of print.

Heinen et al. report a new mechanism how mitochondria connect with lipid droplets. The lipid metabolism enzyme Ayr1 captures the mitochondrial import (MIM) complex and converts its function from preprotein insertion to tethering of lipid droplets to mitochondria and promoting their homeostasis.