Increase in ER-mitochondria contacts and mitochondrial fusion are hallmarks of mitochondrial activation during embryogenesis

Abstract

Mitochondrial ATP production is essential for development, yet the mechanisms underlying the continuous increase in mitochondrial activity during embryogenesis remain elusive. Using zebrafish as a model system for vertebrate development, we comprehensively profile mitochondrial activity, morphology, metabolome, proteome and phospho-proteome as well as respiratory chain enzymatic activity. Our data show that the increase in mitochondrial activity during embryogenesis does not require mitochondrial biogenesis, is not limited by metabolic substrates at early stages, and occurs without an increase in the abundance of respiratory chain complexes or their in vitro activity. Our analyses pinpoint a previously unexplored increase in mitochondrial-ER association during early stages in combination with changes in mitochondrial morphology at later stages as possible contributors to the rise in mitochondrial activity during embryogenesis. Overall, our systematic profiling of the molecular and morphological changes to mitochondria during embryogenesis provides a valuable resource for further studying mitochondrial function during embryogenesis.