Mitochondrial Fission Regulator 1 (MTFR1)

MTFR1 encodes a mitochondrial protein that is characterized by a poly-proline rich region. A chicken homolog of this protein promotes mitochondrial fission and the mouse homolog protects cells from oxidative stress. A related pseudogene of this gene is found on chromosome X.

Conventional fluorescence and confocal localization of CHPPR shows that CHPPR is sorted to mitochondria. Furthermore, immunoelectron microscopy of CHPPR transfected cells demonstrates that this protein is mostly associated with the mitochondrial inner membranes. Careful analysis of CHPPR expressing cells reveals, instead of the regular mitochondrial tubular network, the presence of a number of small spheroid mitochondria.