The main goals of projects in this area are to elucidate the intricate communication between mitochondrial structure and the functional output of the organelles and how this is affected by changing cellular conditions and pathology. Intriguingly, many projects emphasised the intimate bidirectional connection between mitochondrial plasticity and metabolic programmes, and unravelled novel aspects that form the basis for the new research programme of this area.

In the second funding period, we have included novel projects that explore at the molecular resolution the role of specific proteins and protein complexes for the structural plasticity of mitochondria. Together, projects of this area will enable us to tackle our scientific questions from the molecular to the organismal level.