Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 7, 2026

Analysis of Brain Mitochondria Using Serial Block-Face Scanning Electron Microscopy
Published on: July 9, 2016
Biogenetic and morphofunctional heterogeneity of mitochondria: the case of synaptic mitochondria
Abstract:
The mitochondria of different cells are different in their morphological and biochemical properties. These organelles generate free radicals during activity, leading inevitably to mitochondrial DNA damage. It is not clear how this problem is addressed in long-lived cells, such as neurons. We propose the hypothesis that mitochondria within the same cell also differ in lifespan and ability to divide. According to our suggestion, cells have a pool of 'stem' mitochondria with low metabolic activity and a pool of 'differentiated' mitochondria with significantly shorter lifespans and high metabolic activity. We consider synaptic mitochondria as a possible example of 'differentiated' mitochondria. They are significantly smaller than mitochondria from the cell body, and they are different in key enzyme activity levels, proteome, and lipidome. Synaptic mitochondria are more sensitive to different damaging factors. It has been established that neurons have a sorting mechanism that sends mitochondria with high membrane potential to presynaptic endings. This review describes the properties of synaptic mitochondria and their role in the regulation of synaptic transmission.
More Related Videos
10:31Three-dimensional Imaging and Analysis of Mitochondria within Human Intraepidermal Nerve Fibers
Published on: September 29, 2017
06:07Author Spotlight: Establishing a New Fluorescence-Based Protocol for In Vivo Mitochondrial Morphology Analysis in Parkinson's Disease
Published on: June 23, 2023
Related Concept Videos
Mitochondrial Membranes
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,...
Animal Mitochondrial Genetics
Mitochondrial Protein Sorting
Most of these mitochondrial proteins are encoded by the nucleus and imported to the mitochondria as unfolded or loosely folded precursors. Mitochondrial precursors...
Energy to Drive Translocation
Generally, polypeptides are unfolded by two distinct...
Mitochondria