Setting the curve: the biophysical properties of lipids in mitochondrial form and function

Abstract

Mitochondrial membranes are defined by their diverse functions, complex geometries, and unique lipidomes. In the inner mitochondrial membrane, highly curved membrane folds known as cristae house the electron transport chain and are the primary sites of cellular energy production. The outer mitochondrial membrane is flat by contrast, but is critical for the initiation and mediation of processes key to mitochondrial physiology: mitophagy, interorganelle contacts, fission and fusion dynamics, and metabolite transport. While the lipid composition of both the inner mitochondrial membrane and outer mitochondrial membrane have been characterized across a variety of cell types, a mechanistic understanding for how individual lipid classes contribute to mitochondrial structure and function remains nebulous. In this review, we address the biophysical properties of mitochondrial lipids and their related functional roles. We highlight the intrinsic curvature of the bulk mitochondrial phospholipid pool, with an emphasis on the nuances surrounding the mitochondrially-synthesized cardiolipin. We also outline emerging questions about other lipid classes — ether lipids, and sterols — with potential roles in mitochondrial physiology. We propose that further investigation is warranted to elucidate the specific properties of these lipids and their influence on mitochondrial architecture and function.

Keywords

• phospholipids
• mitochondria
• cardiolipin
• curvature
• plasmalogens
• sterols