The Biophysical Mechanism of Mitochondrial Pearling

Sturm et al. · Mol Biol Cell 36(11):ar142 · 2025 · Interactive Digital Twin

TUBULAR

~1 μm

λ = 0.81 ± 0.13 μm

Simulate

Force Balance (Helfrich)

E = E_b + E_s + E_p

Pearling when tension + pressure > bending elasticity

Destabilizing (σ + ΔP) 25

Stabilizing (κ) 85

Structures

Outer Membrane

Inner Membrane

Cristae

Matrix

mtDNA Nucleoids

ATP Synthase

Source

Sturm G, Hake K, Lefebvre AEYT, et al. "The biophysical mechanism of mitochondrial pearling." Mol Biol Cell 36(11):ar142, 2025.
doi:10.1091/mbc.E25-06-0302