Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Time-Lapse Video Microscopy for Assessment of EYFP-Parkin Aggregation as a Marker for Cellular Mitophagy
Published on: May 4, 2016
How could Parkin-mediated ubiquitination of mitofusin promote mitophagy?
Elena Ziviani1, Alexander J Whitworth
1MRC Centre for Developmental and Biomedical Genetics and Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
Abstract:
Much evidence links mitochondrial dysfunction to the death of neurons in Parkinson disease (PD), and is particularly emphasized by our growing understanding of the function of genes linked to recessively inherited PD such as PINK1, parkin and DJ-1. Recent work has revealed an exciting link between the PINK1-Parkin pathway and the autophagic turnover of dysfunctional mitochondrial (mitophagy). We have recently shown that mitofusin is ubiquitinated by Parkin when it is recruited to dysfunctional mitochondria. Recent work also shows that regulated fission and fusion events help segregate dysfunctional mitochondria prior to mitophagy. Here we hypothesize how Parkin-mediated ubiquitination of Mfn may play a role in this mechanism.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Translocation of Proteins into the Mitochondria
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,...
The Proteasome
In this pathway, the target proteins are first tagged with small proteins called ubiquitin. This involves participation of a series of enzymes including— E1 (ubiquitin-activating enzyme), E2 (ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme), and E3 (ubiquitin...
The Proteasome
In this pathway, the target proteins are first tagged with small proteins called ubiquitin. A series of enzymes carry out the ubiquitination of the target proteins - E1 (ubiquitin-activating enzyme), E2 (ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme), and E3...
Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology
Covalently Linked Protein Regulators
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein.
Regulated Protein Degradation
Protein degradation plays two important roles in the cells. It helps to protect cells from misfolded or damaged proteins before they lead to a...

