- Zhou, Zhenqi;
- Ma, Alice;
- Moore, Timothy M;
- Wolf, Dane M;
- Yang, Nicole;
- Tran, Peter;
- Segawa, Mayuko;
- Strumwasser, Alexander R;
- Ren, Wenjuan;
- Fu, Kai;
- Wanagat, Jonathan;
- van der Bliek, Alexander M;
- Crosbie-Watson, Rachelle;
- Liesa, Marc;
- Stiles, Linsey;
- Acin-Perez, Rebecca;
- Mahata, Sushil;
- Shirihai, Orian;
- Goodarzi, Mark O;
- Handzlik, Michal;
- Metallo, Christian M;
- Walker, David W;
- Hevener, Andrea L
The dynamin-related guanosine triphosphatase, Drp1 (encoded by Dnm1l), plays a central role in mitochondrial fission and is requisite for numerous cellular processes; however, its role in muscle metabolism remains unclear. Here, we show that, among human tissues, the highest number of gene correlations with DNM1L is in skeletal muscle. Knockdown of Drp1 (Drp1-KD) promoted mitochondrial hyperfusion in the muscle of male mice. Reduced fatty acid oxidation and impaired insulin action along with increased muscle succinate was observed in Drp1-KD muscle. Muscle Drp1-KD reduced complex II assembly and activity as a consequence of diminished mitochondrial translocation of succinate dehydrogenase assembly factor 2 (Sdhaf2). Restoration of Sdhaf2 normalized complex II activity, lipid oxidation, and insulin action in Drp1-KD myocytes. Drp1 is critical in maintaining mitochondrial complex II assembly, lipid oxidation, and insulin sensitivity, suggesting a mechanistic link between mitochondrial morphology and skeletal muscle metabolism, which is clinically relevant in combatting metabolic-related diseases.