Molecular Mechanisms of Mitochondrial Dynamics and Mitophagy and Their Roles in Neurodegenerative Diseases / 中国药学杂志

ABSTRACT

Mitochondria are high dynamic organelles in living cells that maintain cellular metabolic processes and therefore mitochondrial quality control, which play an important role in the maintenance of intracellular homeostasis, is crucial for cell survival. It was reported that mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy are two main mechanisms in the regulation of mitochondrial quality control. In the central nervous system, maintenance of mitochondrial function and morphology requires fission and fusion of these dynamic organelles. Mitophagy, a selective form of autophagy, which removes abnormal and dysfunctional mitochondria, plays an indispensable role in regulating mitochondrial homeostasis in neurons. Once these systems are disrupted, dysfunctional mitochondria accumulate and potentiate neuronal death, which is associated with reduced levels of ATP and excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In recent years, there has been increasing evidence suggesting that mitochondrial dynamics imbalance and mitophagy disorders are involved in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, the most recent progress on the molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy was discussed their roles on the pathological process of neurodegenerative diseases was focused. Elucidation of the regulation of mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy may become new targets for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.