InterPro domain: IPR027523

This entry includes protein clueless from Drosophila, Clu1 from yeasts and protein CLU from plants. They are involved in proper cytoplasmic distribution of mitochondria [ 1 , 2 ].

Protein clueless from Drosophila is required for mitochondrial subcellular localisation, interacts genetically with parkin [ 3 ]. It is highly expressed in larval neuroblasts, affects mitochondrial localisation and suppresses mitochondrial oxidative damage [ 3 ].

Budding yeast Clu1 is a subunit of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 (eIF3). It can influence mitochondrial morphology and distribution [ 4 ].

Arabidopsis CLU, also known as FRIENDLY (At3g52140), is involved in regulating intermitochondrial association, a prelude to mitochondria fusion [ 5 , 6 ]. FRIENDLY may have expanded into a small gene family to help manage the energy metabolism of cells that contain both chloroplasts and mitochondria. These homologue are known as REDUCED CHLOROPLAST COVERAGE (REC) 1/2/3 (AT1G01320 , AT4G28080, AT1G15290). Together, they contribute to establishing the size of the chloroplast compartment [ 7 ].

1. Clueless, a conserved Drosophila gene required for mitochondrial subcellular localization, interacts genetically with parkin. Dis Model Mech 2, 490-9
2. The cluA- mutant of Dictyostelium identifies a novel class of proteins required for dispersion of mitochondria. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 94, 7308-13
3. Drosophila clueless is highly expressed in larval neuroblasts, affects mitochondrial localization and suppresses mitochondrial oxidative damage. PLoS ONE 113, E1116-25
4. The S. cerevisiae CLU1 and D. discoideum cluA genes are functional homologues that influence mitochondrial morphology and distribution. J. Cell. Sci. 111 ( Pt 12), 1717-27
5. The genetic control of plant mitochondrial morphology and dynamics. Plant J. 36, 500-9
6. FRIENDLY regulates mitochondrial distribution, fusion, and quality control in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiol. 8, e54283
7. REDUCED CHLOROPLAST COVERAGE genes from Arabidopsis thaliana help to establish the size of the chloroplast compartment. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A