PINK1 regulates mitochondrial morphology <i>via</i> promoting mitochondrial fission in porcine preimplantation embryos

Abstract

Phosphatase and tensin homolog-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) on the outer membranes of impaired mitochondria promotes mitophagy and regulates mitochondrial morphology. Mammalian oocytes and early embryos are mitochondria rich, but mitochondrial dynamics during preimplantation embryo development is not well-studied. To investigate whether PINK1 is required for mitochondrial dynamics in porcine preimplantation embryos, gene knockdown and inhibitors were used, and mitochondrial dynamics were observed by transmission electron microscopy. <i>PINK1</i> knockdown significantly impaired blastocyst formation and quality, induced mitochondrial elongation and swelling, and reduced mitochondrial DNA copy number. <i>PINK1</i> knockdown-induced mitochondrial elongation caused mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and ATP deficiency, significantly increasing autophagy and apoptosis. Profission dynamin-related protein 1 overexpression prevented <i>PINK1</i> knockdown-induced impairment of embryo development, mitochondrial elongation, and dysfunction. Thus, PINK1 promotes mitochondrial fission in porcine preimplantation embryos.-Niu, Y.-J., Nie, Z.-W., Shin, K.-T., Zhou, W., Cui, X.-S. PINK1 regulates mitochondrial morphology <i>via</i> promoting mitochondrial fission in porcine preimplantation embryos.