Mitophagy: mechanisms, pathophysiological roles, and analysis

Abstract Mitochondria are essential organelles that regulate cellular energy homeostasis and cell death. The removal of damaged mitochondria through autophagy, a process called mitophagy, is thus critical for maintaining proper cellular functions. Indeed, mitophagy has been recently proposed to play critical roles in terminal differentiation of red blood cells, paternal mitochondrial degradation, neurodegenerative diseases, and ischemia or drug-induced tissue injury. Removal of damaged mitochondria through autophagy requires two steps: induction of general autophagy and priming of damaged mitochondria for selective autophagic recognition. Recent progress in mitophagy studies reveals that mitochondrial priming…

• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: R01 AA020518, RR016475, P20 RR016475, 5P20RR021940, AA020518, 5P20RR021940-07
• NC
  National Center for Research Resources

  Awards: RR016475, 5P20RR021940, P20 RR016475, 5P20RR021940-07