Cnm1 mediates nucleus–mitochondria contact site formation in response to phospholipid levels

A high-throughput screen uncovered a role for the uncharacterized protein, Ybr063c (Cnm1 [contact nucleus mitochondria 1]), as a molecular tether of the nucleus–mitochondria contact in yeast. Cnm1 on the nucleus mediates contact by interacting with Tom70 on mitochondria. Regulation of Cnm1 abundance by phosphatidylcholine enables coupling of phospholipid levels with contact extent.
Mitochondrial functions are tightly regulated by nuclear activity, requiring extensive communication between these organelles. One way by which organelles can communicate is through contact sites, areas of close apposition held together by tethering molecules. While many contacts have been characterized in yeast, the contact between the nucleus and mitochondria was not previously identified. Using fluorescence and electron microscopy in S. cerevisiae, we demonstrate specific areas of contact between the two organelles. Using a high-throughput screen, we uncover a role for the uncharacterized protein Ybr063c, which we have named Cnm1 (contact nucleus mitochondria 1), as a molecular tether on the nuclear membrane. We show that Cnm1 mediates contact by interacting with Tom70 on mitochondria. Moreover, Cnm1 abundance is regulated by phosphatidylcholine, enabling the coupling of phospholipid homeostasis with contact extent. The discovery of a molecular mechanism that allows mitochondrial crosstalk with the nucleus sets the ground for better understanding of mitochondrial functions in health and disease.