Zhang et al. demonstrate that AMPK can be activated by signalling metabolite, adenosine, under non-stress conditions during Drosophila development. The intestine regulates adenosine levels, thus, remotely controlling wing disc AMPK activation and growth.

This study reveals how cardiolipin governs mitochondrial morphology by modulating the activity of human OPA1 and how its replacement by monolyso-cardiolipin, as observed in Barth syndrome, impacts mitochondrial membrane-shaping mechanisms.