Madison Cuaron-Raub

How do cells decide what gets passed on to the next generation? While DNA is monitored through each division cycle, the inheritance mechanism of organelles remains poorly understood. Mitochondrial inheritance, the cell’s energy producers, has long been considered random. My research challenges this idea by exploring whether cells actively organize mitochondria during division.

Using Drosophila melanogaster (the fruit fly) as a model, I investigate how mitochondria interact with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), a cellular network that may help guide their positioning through cell division. These interactions, called contact sites, may play a role in mitochondrial trafficking to ensure their proper distribution. I focus on Miro, a key protein, aiding in mitochondrial movement and organization. By combining imaging techniques and fluorescent labeling, I visualize how these organelles behave in real-time during early development. This work aims to reveal hidden order within the cell and redefine how we understand organelle inheritance, with broader implications for neurological and age-related diseases linked to mitochondrial dysfunction.