Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Autophagic Cell Death01:18

Autophagic Cell Death

3.8K
Christian de Duve discovered “autophagy,” a process in which cellular components are engulfed by membrane-bound organelles called autophagosomes. The autophagosomes then fuse with lysosomes to digest the enclosed contents. Autophagy is generally activated in cells to prevent cell death. However, cell death is triggered when the damage is beyond repair.
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and...
3.8K
Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells01:17

Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells

4.3K
Cells undergoing apoptosis form apoptotic bodies that must be removed immediately to prevent inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and necrosis. Phagocytosis is carried out by professional phagocytes such as macrophages or  immature dendritic cells. Non-professional phagocytes such as  epithelial cells and fibroblasts also take part in this process; however, they are not as effective as professional phagocytes. 
Normal cells contain receptors that prevent them from being recognized...
4.3K
Apoptosis01:30

Apoptosis

12.8K
Apoptosis is a combination of two Greek words, 'apo' and 'ptosis,' meaning separation and falling off, respectively. Hippocrates used this word to describe gangrene, which was caused due to bandaging of fractured bones. Apoptosis was distinguished from necrosis in 1970 when John Kerr reported observations of morphological changes occurring during apoptosis. During one experiment, he observed that the disruption of blood supply to the liver tissue resulted in a size...
12.8K
Translocation of Proteins into the Mitochondria01:19

Translocation of Proteins into the Mitochondria

10.1K
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,...
10.1K
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:31

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

7.4K
Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...
7.4K
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:17

The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

7.2K
The extrinsic apoptotic pathway is initiated when extracellular death-inducing signals, such as specific cytokines, activate the death receptors expressed on the cell surface. The immune cells involved in this pathway are natural killer cells (NK cells) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. NK cells are critical in innate immune response, while cytotoxic T-lymphocytes are associated with adaptive immune response. These cells recognize specific receptors expressed on the altered cells and activate...
7.2K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

A bovine in vitro platform improves species comparability of mitochondrial apoptosis drug-response readouts.

Archives of toxicology·2026
Same author

The endoplasmic reticulum in mitochondrial protein targeting: A neuronal perspective on organelle crosstalk.

Protein science : a publication of the Protein Society·2026
Same author

Energy stress activates AMPK to arrest mitochondria via phosphorylation of TRAK1.

The Journal of cell biology·2026
Same author

A central role for PINK1 in governing local mitochondrial biogenesis and degradation in neurons.

Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS·2026
Same author

Career pathways, part 18.

Nature metabolism·2026
Same author

Comparing loss of individual fragile X proteins suggests strong links to cellular senescence and aging.

Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 18, 2025

Visualizing Mitophagy with Fluorescent Dyes for Mitochondria and Lysosome
07:56

Visualizing Mitophagy with Fluorescent Dyes for Mitochondria and Lysosome

Published on: November 30, 2022

5.4K

Kill one or kill the many: interplay between mitophagy and apoptosis.

Simone Wanderoy1, J Tabitha Hees1, Ramona Klesse2,3

  • 1Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology, Am Klopferspitz 18, D-82152Martinsried, Germany.

Biological Chemistry
|February 5, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Cells remove damaged mitochondria via mitophagy, but excessive damage triggers apoptosis through caspase activation. This review explores the critical balance between mitophagy and caspase activity, especially in the central nervous system.

Keywords:
BCL-2 familyPINK1ParkinParkinson’s diseasecaspase-3synaptic plasticity

More Related Videos

In Vitro and In Vivo Detection of Mitophagy in Human Cells, C. Elegans, and Mice
08:40

In Vitro and In Vivo Detection of Mitophagy in Human Cells, C. Elegans, and Mice

Published on: November 22, 2017

18.0K
Sensitive Measurement of Mitophagy by Flow Cytometry Using the pH-dependent Fluorescent Reporter mt-Keima
09:13

Sensitive Measurement of Mitophagy by Flow Cytometry Using the pH-dependent Fluorescent Reporter mt-Keima

Published on: August 12, 2018

15.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 18, 2025

Visualizing Mitophagy with Fluorescent Dyes for Mitochondria and Lysosome
07:56

Visualizing Mitophagy with Fluorescent Dyes for Mitochondria and Lysosome

Published on: November 30, 2022

5.4K
In Vitro and In Vivo Detection of Mitophagy in Human Cells, C. Elegans, and Mice
08:40

In Vitro and In Vivo Detection of Mitophagy in Human Cells, C. Elegans, and Mice

Published on: November 22, 2017

18.0K
Sensitive Measurement of Mitophagy by Flow Cytometry Using the pH-dependent Fluorescent Reporter mt-Keima
09:13

Sensitive Measurement of Mitophagy by Flow Cytometry Using the pH-dependent Fluorescent Reporter mt-Keima

Published on: August 12, 2018

15.3K

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Mitochondria are vital for cellular metabolism, calcium (Ca2+) regulation, and programmed cell death (apoptosis).
  • Mitophagy, a cellular process for removing damaged mitochondria, is impaired in Parkinson's disease.
  • Dysfunctional mitochondria can lead to apoptosis via the release of cytochrome c, mediated by BCL-2 proteins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the interplay between mitophagy and caspase activation.
  • To highlight the significance of this interplay in the central nervous system.
  • To explore the decision-making process at the mitochondrial surface.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of current knowledge on mitophagy and caspase activation.
  • Focus on mechanisms regulating mitochondrial fate.
  • Analysis of studies concerning the central nervous system.

Main Results:

  • Mitophagy acts as a protective mechanism against mitochondrial stress.
  • Excessive mitochondrial damage overwhelms mitophagy, leading to caspase activation and apoptosis.
  • Caspase activation in neurons also has non-apoptotic roles, such as in synaptic plasticity.

Conclusions:

  • The balance between mitophagy and caspase activation is crucial for cellular health.
  • Understanding this balance is key to addressing neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms governing the choice between mitophagy and apoptosis in neurons.