Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 7, 2025

08:40
In Vitro and In Vivo Detection of Mitophagy in Human Cells, C. Elegans, and Mice
Published on: November 22, 2017
17.9K
Mitophagy in Human Diseases
Laura Doblado1, Claudia Lueck1, Claudia Rey1
1Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Alberto Sols" (CSIC-UAM), Arturo Duperier 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|April 30, 2021
Summary
Mitophagy, the process of clearing damaged mitochondria, is vital for cell health. Restoring mitophagy balance may offer new therapies for chronic diseases like neurodegeneration and diabetes.
Area of Science:
- Cellular Biology
- Biochemistry
- Pathology
Background:
- Mitophagy is a crucial selective autophagy pathway for eliminating dysfunctional mitochondria, maintaining cellular homeostasis.
- It is essential in post-mitotic cells reliant on aerobic metabolism, including neurons, muscle cells, and hepatocytes.
- Dysfunctional mitophagy is implicated in age-related diseases such as neurodegenerative disorders, metabolic conditions, and liver disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review key selective mitochondrial autophagy pathways.
- To explore the role of mitophagy in prevalent chronic human diseases.
- To highlight potential therapeutic interventions targeting mitochondrial quality control.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of selective mitochondrial autophagy pathways.
- Analysis of mitophagy's role in various chronic human diseases.
- Synthesis of findings from in vitro and preclinical models.
Main Results:
- Identified key mitophagy pathways and their significance in cellular health.
- Established links between mitophagy dysfunction and multiple chronic diseases.
- Highlighted the therapeutic potential of interventions modulating mitophagy.
Conclusions:
- Mitophagy plays a critical role in preventing and potentially treating chronic diseases.
- Restoring mitophagy homeostasis could offer novel therapeutic strategies.
- Further research is needed to translate preclinical findings into human applications for mitochondrial quality control.
Keywords:
Alzheimer’sHuntington’sPINK1ParkinParkinson’sagingatherosclerosisdementiadiabetesexerciseheart failuremicemitophagymuscle wastingratsMore Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Autophagy
5.2K
Autophagy is a self-digesting process by which a cell protects itself from threats both within and outside the cell, ranging from abnormal proteins to invading bacteria. In this process, obsolete components of the cell and invading microbes are degraded by hydrolytic enzymes active in an acidic environment of the lysosomal lumen.
An autophagic pathway consists of a series of signaling events activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions such as food deprivation,...
An autophagic pathway consists of a series of signaling events activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions such as food deprivation,...
5.2K
Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome
8.3K
Eukaryotic cells use different mechanisms to eliminate toxic waste obsolete and worn-out substances. Lysosomes play a pivotal role in this, and hence, these substances are carried to the lysosome from other parts of the cell and extracellular space through different pathways. The most elaborately studied pathways to the lysosome are the endocytic pathways.
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...
8.3K
Translocation of Proteins into the Mitochondria
9.7K
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,...
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,...
9.7K
Autophagic Cell Death
3.7K
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...
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and...
3.7K
The Proteasome
1.3K
Eukaryotic cells can degrade proteins through several pathways. One of the most important among these is the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. It helps the cell eliminate the misfolded, damaged, or unwarranted cytoplasmic proteins in a highly specific manner.
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...
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...
1.3K
The Proteasome
9.4K
Eukaryotic cells can degrade proteins through several pathways. One of the most important amongst these is the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. It helps the cell eliminate the misfolded, damaged, or unwarranted cytoplasmic proteins in a highly specific manner.
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...
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...
9.4K

