Arabidopsis dynamin-like protein 2a (ADL2a), like ADL2b, is involved in plant mitochondrial division.

The Arabidopsis genome has two similar dynamin-like proteins, ADL2a and ADL2b (76.7% identity). ADL2a is reported to be localized in chloroplasts [Kang et al. (1998) Plant Mol. Biol. 38: 437], while ADL2b functions in mitochondrial division [Arimura and Tsutsumi (2002) PROC: Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99: 5727]. Using GFP fusion proteins, we observed both ADL2a and ADL2b in portions of mitochondria but not in chloroplasts. Furthermore, cells transformed with ADL2a and ADL2b with a defective GTPase domain had normal chloroplasts but elongated mitochondria. These results imply that both ADL2b and ADL2a are involved in the division of plant mitochondria.