Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 22, 2025

Time-Lapse Video Microscopy for Assessment of EYFP-Parkin Aggregation as a Marker for Cellular Mitophagy
09:29

Time-Lapse Video Microscopy for Assessment of EYFP-Parkin Aggregation as a Marker for Cellular Mitophagy

Published on: May 4, 2016

7.3K

Vps13D functions in a Pink1-dependent and Parkin-independent mitophagy pathway

James L Shen1, Tina M Fortier1, Ruoxi Wang1

  • 1Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA.

The Journal of Cell Biology
|August 30, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Vps13D regulates mitophagy, a key cellular process, through a novel Pink1-dependent pathway. This pathway is independent of Park/Parkin, offering new insights into mitochondrial quality control and neurodegenerative diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Autophagy is crucial for cellular homeostasis, with defects linked to metabolic disorders, developmental issues, and diseases.
  • Mitophagy, the selective clearance of damaged mitochondria via autophagy, is essential for maintaining mitochondrial quality.
  • Vps13D loss impairs mitophagy, suggesting its role in this critical cellular process.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the molecular mechanism by which Vps13D regulates mitophagy.
  • To investigate the relationship between Vps13D, Pink1, and Park/Parkin in mitophagy.
  • To identify novel pathways involved in Pink1-dependent mitophagy.

Main Methods:

  • Genetic analysis of Vps13D, Pink1, and Park/Parkin mutants in autophagy.
  • Assessment of autophagic flux and mitochondrial morphology.
  • Investigation of Atg8a and ubiquitin localization in mitophagy pathways.

Main Results:

  • Vps13D regulates mitophagy via a Pink1-dependent pathway involving Atg8a and ubiquitin localization.
  • Loss of Pink1 phenocopies Vps13D loss in autophagy and mitochondrial defects.
  • Park/Parkin is not essential for Vps13D-mediated, Pink1-dependent mitophagy, operating in a parallel pathway.

Conclusions:

  • Vps13D functions in a Park-independent, Pink1-regulated mitophagy pathway.
  • This discovery clarifies Vps13D's role in autophagy and mitochondrial dynamics.
  • Findings contribute to understanding neurodegenerative disease mechanisms involving mitochondrial dysfunction.

More Related Videos

Protection of H9c2 Myocardial Cells from Oxidative Stress by Crocetin via PINK1/Parkin Pathway-Mediated Mitophagy07:40

Protection of H9c2 Myocardial Cells from Oxidative Stress by Crocetin via PINK1/Parkin Pathway-Mediated Mitophagy

Published on: May 26, 2023

1.3K
Author Spotlight: Fluorescence-Based Quantification of Mitochondrial Membrane Potential and Superoxide Levels Using Live Imaging in HeLa Cells06:57

Author Spotlight: Fluorescence-Based Quantification of Mitochondrial Membrane Potential and Superoxide Levels Using Live Imaging in HeLa Cells

Published on: May 12, 2023

8.5K

Related Concept Videos

Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome01:36

Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome

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...
8.2K
Translocation of Proteins into the Mitochondria01:19

Translocation of Proteins into the Mitochondria

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,...
8.9K
Lysosomal Hydrolases01:22

Lysosomal Hydrolases

Lysosomes are the site for the degradation of macromolecules and biological polymers released during membrane trafficking events such as secretory, endocytic, autophagic, and phagocytic pathways. The membrane-enclosed area of the lysosome, called the lumen, contains hydrolytic enzymes active in an acidic environment. These acid hydrolases are functional at a pH between 4.5 and 5 and are involved in cellular processes such as cell signaling, energy metabolism, restoration of the plasma membrane,...
4.0K
Mitochondrial Protein Sorting01:39

Mitochondrial Protein Sorting

Mitochondria are double-membrane organelles of the eukaryotes involved in cellular metabolism, signaling, ATP synthesis, and programmed cell death.  Each of these processes requires specific proteins and enzymes that must be correctly sorted to the right mitochondrial subcompartment for the proper functioning of the organelle.
Most of these mitochondrial proteins are encoded by the nucleus and imported to the mitochondria as unfolded or loosely folded precursors. Mitochondrial precursors...
4.9K
Regulated Protein Degradation02:58

Regulated Protein Degradation

2.7K
Intralumenal Vesicles and Multivesicular Bodies01:38

Intralumenal Vesicles and Multivesicular Bodies

Intraluminal vesicles (ILVs) are small vesicles 50-80 nm in diameter formed during the maturation of early endosomes. A specialized endosome containing numerous ILVs is called a multivesicular body (MVB). ILVs contain internalized molecules such as antigens, nucleic acids, proteins, and metabolites. Some of these molecules are released from the MVBs inside exosomes and are transported to other cells. Other MVBs contain molecules that are retained in the ILVs and are later degraded within the...
4.1K