Mitofusins are required for specialized mitochondrial morphology and function of rod photoreceptor cells (opens in new tab)

Mitochondria are dynamic organelles that undergo continuous morphological changes, yet exhibit unique, cell-type-specific structures. In rod photoreceptor cells of the retina, these include elongated mitochondria in the inner segments and a distinct, large, circular mitochondrion within each presynaptic terminal. The mechanisms underlying the establishment and maintenance of these specialized mitochondrial morphologies, as well as their relationship to photoreceptor function, remain incomplet...