The work of L. Scorrano has changed classical tenets in the fields of apoptosis and mitochondrial pathophysiology. His work on cristae remodeling paved the way for the new field of mitochondrial dynamics. In the following years, his lab discovered that Opa1 works as a molecular staple holding cristae junctions tight, deficient in dominant optic atrophy, targeted during apoptosis and essential in vivo to control tissue damage and even to correct mitochondrial diseases; identified the first molecular bridge between ER and mitochondria (starting the new field of interorganellar contact sites); showed that mitochondria change shape to control autophagy, or to produce progesterone during pregnancy; demonstrated that cristae shape dictates assembly of proteins and efficiency of respiration; discovered a novel pathway of Notch1 signaling controlled by mitochondrial fusion and Ca2+ essential during heart development; discovered that mitochondrial fusion mounts a metabolic defense against the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma. His papers are widely cited (146 indexed items, approx. 22,000 citations, average of ~150 cites/item, h-index of 68 on Google Scholar; of his research papers as main author, 3 are cited >1,000 times, 11 >300 times, 21 >100 times). For his research, he received several awards and was elected EMBO Member in 2012. L. Scorrano serves the community by sitting on advisory, steering and evaluation boards in Europe and abroad.

Mitochondrial dynamics in cell life, differentiation and death

Mitochondrial dynamics in cell life and death