Complex multicellular life evolved from a symbiotic relationship with mitochondria. As a result, several regulatory processes within the cell and the organism − from differentiation to death − are influenced by mitochondrial signals. 

Not unlike their bacterial ancestors, mitochondria also exchange molecular information and communicate with each other. This occurs through organelle fusion, mitochondrial nanotunnels, physical connections called inter-mitochondrial junctions (IMJs), and soluble molecules. Together, mitochondria are thought to form a functional network within the cell cytoplasm.

By understanding the behavior, language, and function of individual mitochondria, and especially their interactions with each other, we aim to understand principles that inform the function of mitochondrial networks, and their role the regulation of individual cells, and of the whole organism.

​This work has implications for understanding basic biological processes
including gene expression regulation, ​clonal expansion of mtDNA defects,
​​and cellular aging trajectories.
 "The organism is integrated into a larger system of information exchange […]. The brain and the rest of the organism are not qualitatively different in their ability to compute ​information,​ but show only qualitative differences in their purposiveness."  
− Herbert Weiner, Perturbing the Organism (1992)
Picture
Working model of mitochondrial (1) sensing, (2) integration, and (3) signaling, and its parallel with the way the brain processes information. Trends Neurosci (2015)
 Related Publications​
  • Mitochondrial dynamics in adaptive and maladaptive cellular stress responses
    Eisner V, Picard M, Hajnoczky G. Nat Cell Biol 2018; 20(7):655-665   PubMed   PDF​

  • Mitochondrial nanotunnels
    Vincent AE, Turnbull DM, Hajnoczky G, Eisner V, Picard M. Trends Cell Biol 2017; 27(11):787-799   PubMed   PDF   Suppl​
    ​
  • ​Mitochondrial synapses: Intracellular communication and signal integration
    Picard M.     Trends Neurosci 2015; 38(8):468-474   PubMed   PDF
    ​
  • Inter-mitochondrial coordination of cristae at regulated membrane junctions
    Picard M, McManus MJ, Csordas G, Varnai P, Dorn GW, Williams D, Hajnoczky G, Wallace DC. Nat Commun 2015; 6:6259   PubMed       PDF

  • Progressive increase in mtDNA 3243A>G heteroplasmy results in abrupt transcriptional remodeling
    Picard M, Zhang J, Hanecock S, Derbeneva O, Golhar R, Golik P, O’Hearn S, Levy SE, Potluri P, Lvova M, Davila A, Lin CS, Perin JC, Rappaport EF, Hakonarson H, Trounce I, Procaccio V, Wallace DC. PNAS 2014; 111(38):E4033;4042   PubMed       PDF