# Defining intracellular mitochondrial heterogeneity establishment and maintenance

> **NIH NIH F32** · UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · 2022 · $67,582

## Abstract

Project Summary
Mitochondria are the subcellular compartment responsible for a majority of cellular metabolic events including
oxidative phosphorylation, heme biosynthesis, and other metabolic fluxes. Given the common depictions of
mitochondrial physiology, it is striking that two recent studies have discovered subsets of mitochondria that are
specialized in their functions and composition (2,10). In accordance with these findings, we posit the innovative
hypothesis that intracellular mitochondrial heterogeneity exists in cells and is maintained through intracellular
organelle-communication. In this proposal, we will define intracellular mitochondrial heterogeneity and discover
the characteristics of specialized mitochondria. Using independent techniques: 1) CRISPR-mediated endo-
tagging of select mitochondrial protein; 2) Proximity labeling and affinity purification of mitochondria, isolated
mitochondrial populations will undergo comparative proteomics and metabolomics with Steven Gygi (see
attached letter). A potential mechanism to establish mitochondrial heterogeneity in cells is to have distinct
modes of intracellular communication. In this context, we propose that organelle proximity (ER, Golgi,
peroxisome, lysosome, endosome, and lipid droplets) is necessary for the establishment and maintenance of
specialized mitochondria by changing their individual proteomes and thus, mitochondrial function and
metabolism. Additionally, we aim to uncover the roles for intracellular mitochondrial heterogeneity in cellular
homeostasis. Overall, the insights gained from the proposed experiments will provide an innovative and
exciting perspective on mitochondrial biology and homeostasis.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10436786
- **Project number:** 5F32GM140525-02
- **Recipient organization:** UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
- **Principal Investigator:** Corey Nathaniel Cunningham
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $67,582
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-07-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10436786

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10436786, Defining intracellular mitochondrial heterogeneity establishment and maintenance (5F32GM140525-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10436786. Licensed CC0.

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