Mitochondrial Dynamics, Autophagy, and Apoptosis - Imaging Cellular Stress Responses and the Role of the Cancer/Testis Antigen FATE1

Explore the intricate mechanisms by which mitochondria regulate cellular stress responses in this 25-minute webinar presented by Dr. Anne Hamacher-Brady from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Gain an educational overview of how mitochondrial dynamics, including fusion and fission processes, intersect with intrinsic apoptosis and mitophagy/autophagy regulation to determine cell fate. Discover how live-cell high- and super-resolution microscopy has revolutionized understanding of these processes by revealing the spatial and temporal coordination of organelle remodeling under stress conditions. Learn about recent research findings on FATE1 (Fetal and Adult Testis Expressed 1), a cancer/testis antigen aberrantly expressed in cancer cells that, unlike its homolog mitochondrial fission factor (Mff), preserves mitochondrial networks and prevents stress-induced breakdown rather than promoting fragmentation. Understand how FATE1's activities may be integrated with mechanisms that allow tumor cells to resist apoptosis and maintain survival under chemotherapy treatments, providing insights into how cancer-selective regulators exploit mitochondrial stress response pathways for oncogenic advantage. Examine the role of alterations in mitochondrial morphology and inter-organellar communication in shaping cellular outcomes, with particular emphasis on mitochondria-endolysosomal interactions and their implications for cancer, cardiovascular, and infectious disease models.