Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Mitochondria

Mitochondria

Mitochondria are eukaryotic cellular organelles that are known to produce energy through a process called oxidative phosphorylation. Besides their primary function, mitochondria are involved in various cellular processes, including cell growth, differentiation, signaling, metabolism, and senescence. Age-related changes cause a decline in mitochondrial quality and integrity due to increased mitochondrial mutations and oxidative damage. Thus, aging can severely impact mitochondrial functions,...

Animal Mitochondrial Genetics

Animal Mitochondrial Genetics

Among all the organelles in an animal cell, only mitochondria have their own independent genomes. Animal mitochondrial DNA is a double-stranded, closed-circular molecule with around 20,000 base pairs. Mitochondrial DNA is unique in that one of its two strands, the heavy, or H, -strand is guanine rich, whereas the complementary strand is cytosine rich and called the light, or L, -strand. Compared to nuclear DNA, mitochondrial DNA has a very low percentage of non-coding regions and is marked by...

Mitochondrial Membranes

Mitochondrial Membranes

A single mitochondrion is a bean-shaped organelle enclosed by a double-membrane system. The outer membrane of mitochondria is smooth and contains many porins - the integral membrane transporters. Porins enable free diffusion of ions and small uncharged molecules through the outer mitochondrial membrane but limit the transport of molecules larger than 5000 Daltons. Further, the outer mitochondrial membrane forms a unique structure called membrane contact sites with other subcellular organelles,...

Spontaneous and Induced Mutations

Spontaneous and Induced Mutations

Spontaneous mutations arise infrequently during DNA replication due to errors in the process. A key factor behind these errors is tautomeric shifts in nitrogenous bases, where bases transition from keto to enol forms or amino to imino forms. This shift can alter base-pairing rules, leading to mutations. Additionally, reactive oxygen species (ROS) arising from aerobic metabolism can damage DNA, resulting in depurination (loss of a purine base) or depyrimidination (loss of a pyrimidine base).

Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II

Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II

The mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) is the main energy generation system in the eukaryotic cells. However, mitochondria also produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to the large electron flow during oxidative phosphorylation. While Complex I is one of the primary sources of superoxide radicals, ROS production by Complex II is uncommon and may only be observed in cancer cells with mutated complexes.
ROS generation is regulated and maintained at moderate levels necessary...

Translocation of Proteins into the Mitochondria

Translocation of Proteins into the Mitochondria

Mitochondrial precursors are translocated to the internal subcompartments via independent mechanisms involving distinct protein machineries called translocases.
Sorting of outer membrane proteins:
Mitochondrial outer membrane proteins are of two types: the transmembrane, beta-barrel porins, and the membrane-anchored, alpha-helical proteins. Beta-barrel porin precursors are translocated by the TOM complex and inserted into the outer mitochondrial membrane by the SAM complex. In contrast,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Cancer as a window into mitochondrial biology.

Cell metabolism·2026

Same author

Cancer mtDNA mutations: metabolic plasticity and therapeutic promise?

Trends in molecular medicine·2026

Same author

Quantifying variability of mitochondrial markers in m3243A > G myopathy.

Scientific reports·2025

Same author

Variant load of mitochondrial DNA in single human mesenchymal stem cells.

Scientific reports·2024

Same author

Phase II Feasibility Study of the Efficacy, Tolerability, and Impact on the Gut Microbiome of a Low-Residue (Fiber) Diet in Adult Patients With Mitochondrial Disease.

Gastro hep advances·2024

Same author

Author Correction: Apoptotic stress causes mtDNA release during senescence and drives the SASP.

Nature·2024

Same journal

Cumulative Contents.

Biochimica et biophysica acta·2020

Same journal

Molecular Basis of Disease Cumulative Contents.

Biochimica et biophysica acta·2020

Same journal

General Subjects Cumulative Contents.

Biochimica et biophysica acta·2020

Same journal

Erratum to 'on the role of exchangeable hydrogen bonds for the kinetics of P680<sup>+·</sup> Q<sub>A</sub> <sup>-·</sup> formation and P680<sup>+·</sup> Pheo<sup>-·</sup> recombination in photosystem II' [Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1276 (1996) 35-44].

Biochimica et biophysica acta·2019

Same journal

Oligomeric state of the light-harvesting complexes B800-850 and B875 from purple bacterium Rubrivivax gelatinosus in detergent solution.

Biochimica et biophysica acta·2019

Same journal

Regulation of pigment content and enzyme activity in the cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. Mac grown in continuous light, a light-dark photoperiod, or darkness.

Biochimica et biophysica acta·2019

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Visualization of Mitochondrial Respiratory Function using Cytochrome C Oxidase / Succinate Dehydrogenase (COX/SDH) Double-labeling Histochemistry

Visualization of Mitochondrial Respiratory Function using Cytochrome C Oxidase / Succinate Dehydrogenase (COX/SDH) Double-labeling Histochemistry

Published on: November 23, 2011

Mitochondrial DNA mutations and ageing.

Laura C Greaves¹, Doug M Turnbull

¹Mitochondrial Research Group, Institute for Ageing and Health, The Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK.

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta

|May 5, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations accumulate with age, but their causal role in aging and disease remains uncertain. This review examines evidence for and against mtDNA mutations driving the aging process and age-related diseases.

More Related Videos

Transmitochondrial Cybrid Generation Using Cancer Cell Lines

Transmitochondrial Cybrid Generation Using Cancer Cell Lines

Published on: March 17, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Visualization of Mitochondrial Respiratory Function using Cytochrome C Oxidase / Succinate Dehydrogenase (COX/SDH) Double-labeling Histochemistry

Visualization of Mitochondrial Respiratory Function using Cytochrome C Oxidase / Succinate Dehydrogenase (COX/SDH) Double-labeling Histochemistry

Published on: November 23, 2011

Transmitochondrial Cybrid Generation Using Cancer Cell Lines

Transmitochondrial Cybrid Generation Using Cancer Cell Lines

Published on: March 17, 2023

Area of Science:

Gerontology
Molecular Biology
Genetics

Background:

Aging is a complex process with multiple contributing factors.
The elderly population is growing, increasing the need to understand aging mechanisms.
Age is a primary risk factor for major diseases like cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the current literature on the role of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations in aging.
To discuss the evidence supporting and refuting a causal link between mtDNA mutations and the aging process.
To explore the involvement of mtDNA mutations in the development of age-related diseases.

Main Methods:

Literature review of existing studies on mtDNA mutations and aging.
Analysis of evidence for and against the causal role of mtDNA mutations.
Discussion of the pathogenesis of age-related diseases in the context of mtDNA mutations.

Main Results:

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations are observed to accumulate in cells and tissues over time.
The direct causal relationship between mtDNA mutations and the aging process is still debated.
Evidence suggests a potential role for mtDNA mutations in the development of various age-related conditions.

Conclusions:

The precise role of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations in aging requires further investigation.
Understanding this relationship is crucial for addressing age-related diseases.
Further research is needed to confirm or refute the causal link and its implications for healthspan.