Cologne Seminars on Ageing "A new role for mitochondrial dynamics in coordinating the nuclear response to forces"

About Sirio´s talk:
Tissue-scale architecture and mechanical properties instruct cell behavior in physiological and diseased conditions, but our understanding of the underlying mechanisms remains fragmentary. I will discuss new data indicating that ECM stiffness, spatial confinements, and applied forces including stretching of the mouse skin regulate mitochondrial dynamics. Mechanistically, actomyosin tension promotes phosphorylation of a DRP1 receptor, limiting the recruitment of DRP1 at mitochondria, peri-mitochondrial F-actin formation, and mitochondrial fission. Strikingly, mitochondrial fission is also a general mechanotransduction mechanism. Indeed we found that fission is required and sufficient to regulate three transcription factors of broad relevance to control cell proliferation, lipogenesis, antioxidant metabolism, chemotherapy resistance, and adipocyte differentiation in response to mechanical cues. This extends to the mouse liver, where DRP1 regulates hepatocyte proliferation and identity. We propose that mitochondria fulfill a unifying signaling function by which the mechanical tissue microenvironment coordinates complementary cell functions.

Scientific Background:
Black sheep in a family of artists and humanists, I chose to study science and took a Molecular Biology Master's Degree, in Padua. A very young father and mad about developmental biology, I threw myself headlong into a PhD, which I completed in 2004, in Padua. Results are good, passion remains burning, I try my chance with Academia and I become Assistant Professor in 2006, in Padua. Everything goes on fine, the family grows again, I step upon a new research field and I even manage to make a 'once in a lifetime’ discovery. I decide to do the next step in my career and to start an independent research group in 2013. In Padua. Now it's been more than ten years that I run my research group, I have fun with science, the family grew once more (always the same wife!), and I became Full Professor in 2023. In Padua, where else?.