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

Propagation of Action Potentials01:23

Propagation of Action Potentials

9.0K
The propagation of an action potential refers to the process by which a nerve impulse, or "action potential," travels along a neuron.
Neurons (nerve cells) have a resting membrane potential, with a slightly negative charge inside compared to outside. This is maintained by ion channels, such as sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) channels, which control the flow of ions. When a stimulus, like a touch or a signal from another neuron, triggers the neuron, sodium channels open, allowing sodium ions to...
9.0K
Action Potentials01:41

Action Potentials

141.4K
Overview
141.4K
Energy to Drive Translocation01:37

Energy to Drive Translocation

2.7K
Mitochondrial protein import is powered by two distinct energy sources: ATP hydrolysis and electrochemical potential across the inner membrane. Newly synthesized precursors are bound by cytosolic chaperones of the Hsp70 family, which guide them to the import receptors on the mitochondrial surface. Utilizing the energy of ATP hydrolysis, Hsp70 chaperones transfer these precursors to the TOM receptors on the mitochondrial outer membrane.
Generally, polypeptides are unfolded by two distinct...
2.7K
Action Potential01:14

Action Potential

10.8K
Neurons communicate by firing action potentials—the electrochemical signal that is propagated along the axon. The signal results in the release of neurotransmitters at axon terminals, thereby transmitting information to the nervous system. An action potential is a specific "all-or-none" change in membrane potential that results in a rapid spike in voltage.
Membrane potential in neurons
Neurons typically have a resting membrane potential of about -70 millivolts (mV). When they receive...
10.8K
Action Potential01:31

Action Potential

4.3K
Neurons communicate by firing action potentials—the electrochemical signal that is propagated along the axon. The signal results in the release of neurotransmitters at axon terminals, thereby transmitting information to the nervous system. An action potential is a specific "all-or-none" change in membrane potential that results in a rapid spike in voltage.
Membrane potential in neurons
Neurons typically have a resting membrane potential of about -70 millivolts (mV). When they receive...
4.3K
ATP Synthase: Mechanism01:48

ATP Synthase: Mechanism

16.8K
In animals, the mitochondrial F1F0 ATP synthase is the key protein that synthesizes ATP molecules through a complex catalytic mechanism. While the nuclear genome encodes the majority of ATP synthase subunits, the mitochondrial genome encodes some of the enzyme's most critical components. The formation of this multi-subunit enzyme is a complex multi-step process regulated at the level of transcription, translation, and assembly. Defects in one or more of these steps can result in decreased...
16.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Adaptive introgression of a visual preference gene.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2024
Same author

Extensive GJD2 Expression in the Song Motor Pathway Reveals the Extent of Electrical Synapses in the Songbird Brain.

Biology·2021
Same journal

Salt priming coordinates transcriptional and epigenetic states for enhanced salt tolerance in mung bean (Vigna radiata).

Communications biology·2026
Same journal

A male-derived volatile sex pheromone in Caenorhabditis nematodes identified through its mimicry by a predator.

Communications biology·2026
Same journal

Revalidation of Manis aurita based on integrative genomic and morphological evidence.

Communications biology·2026
Same journal

Presenilin-1 controls glycolysis and identity of pancreatic beta cells.

Communications biology·2026
Same journal

Base editing-derived models of human WDR34 and WDR60 disease alleles replicate retrograde intraflagellar transport (IFT) and hedgehog signaling defects.

Communications biology·2026
Same journal

Butterflies with low thermoregulatory capacity show greatest upwards range shifts along an elevational gradient.

Communications biology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 18, 2026

Assessment of Open Probability of the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore in the Setting of Coenzyme Q Excess
07:35

Assessment of Open Probability of the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore in the Setting of Coenzyme Q Excess

Published on: June 1, 2022

2.6K

Mitochondria delay action potential propagation.

Ann M Castelfranco1, Pepe Alcami2,3

  • 1Békésy Laboratory of Neurobiology, Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.

Communications Biology
|September 9, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Axons, the nerve cells that transmit electrical signals, slow down when their mitochondria partially block internal pathways. This finding reveals how mitochondria impact nerve signal timing and processing in small axons.

More Related Videos

Microfluidics-Assisted Selective Depolarization of Axonal Mitochondria
06:55

Microfluidics-Assisted Selective Depolarization of Axonal Mitochondria

Published on: August 4, 2022

2.2K
Neuromodulation and Mitochondrial Transport: Live Imaging in Hippocampal Neurons over Long Durations
04:50

Neuromodulation and Mitochondrial Transport: Live Imaging in Hippocampal Neurons over Long Durations

Published on: June 17, 2011

17.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 18, 2026

Assessment of Open Probability of the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore in the Setting of Coenzyme Q Excess
07:35

Assessment of Open Probability of the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore in the Setting of Coenzyme Q Excess

Published on: June 1, 2022

2.6K
Microfluidics-Assisted Selective Depolarization of Axonal Mitochondria
06:55

Microfluidics-Assisted Selective Depolarization of Axonal Mitochondria

Published on: August 4, 2022

2.2K
Neuromodulation and Mitochondrial Transport: Live Imaging in Hippocampal Neurons over Long Durations
04:50

Neuromodulation and Mitochondrial Transport: Live Imaging in Hippocampal Neurons over Long Durations

Published on: June 17, 2011

17.2K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Computational Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Action potential conduction velocity is determined by axonal internal resistance.
  • Axons are typically modeled as organelle-free, neglecting mitochondrial impact on resistance and conduction.
  • The role of mitochondria in modulating axonal conduction velocity remains understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of axonal mitochondria on action potential conduction velocity.
  • To quantify the delay introduced by mitochondria in unmyelinated axons.
  • To understand how mitochondrial presence affects information processing in small-diameter axons.

Main Methods:

  • Computational modeling of action potential propagation in axons.
  • Electron microscopy of forebrain premotor axons from birdsong control circuits.
  • Analysis of conduction velocity changes due to mitochondrial obstruction.

Main Results:

  • Mitochondria decrease axonal conduction velocity, causing delays of microseconds per encounter.
  • The delay effect is more pronounced in smaller diameter axons.
  • Accumulated delays over millimeter-long axons are in the range of neuronal temporal precision.
  • Mitochondria induce conduction inhomogeneities along the axon.

Conclusions:

  • Mitochondria partially occupying axoplasm constrain information processing in vertebrate small-diameter axons.
  • Axonal mitochondria introduce delays that impact neuronal temporal coding.
  • The developed model allows future studies on mitochondrial plasticity's effect on axonal function.