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Updated: May 19, 2026

In Vitro and In Vivo Detection of Mitophagy in Human Cells, C. Elegans, and Mice
Published on: November 22, 2017
Autophagy, mitochondria and 3-nitropropionic acid joined in the same model
Rosa A González-Polo1, José M Bravo-San Pedro, Rubén Gómez-Sánchez
1Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Genética, E. Enfermería y T.O., Universidad de Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.
Abstract:
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a mutation in the gene encoding the huntingtin protein. Although the precise mechanism by which neuronal degeneration occurs is still unclear, several elements are important to its development: (1) altered gene expression and protein synthesis, (2) mitochondrial damage and (3) improper regulation of the autophagy programme. In this issue of British Journal of Pharmacology, Galindo and co-workers provide the first evidence for a role of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) in mitochondrial fragmentation and autophagy activation. In a model of cell death induced by 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) in human neural cells, the authors describe clear functions for mPTP and Bax, but not the mitochondrial fusion/fission machinery, mitochondrial fragmentation and autophagy (mitophagy). This commentary summarises the significance of this relationship and suggests several points for future development.
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