The Role of Mitophagy in Regulating Cell Death.

Sunao Li,Chao Liu,Mingyang Zhang,Li Hui,Haiyan Shan,Jun Yan,Jiaxin Zhang,Qianliang Wang,Luyang Tao,Qiufang Jia,Amalia Dolga

doi:10.1155/2021/6617256

Abstract

Mitochondria are multifaceted organelles that serve to power critical cellular functions, including act as power generators of the cell, buffer cytosolic calcium overload, production of reactive oxygen species, and modulating cell survival. The structure and the cellular location of mitochondria are critical for their function and depend on highly regulated activities such as mitochondrial quality control (MQC) mechanisms. The MQC is regulated by several sets of processes: mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial fusion and fission, mitophagy, and other mitochondrial proteostasis mechanisms such as mitochondrial unfolded protein response (mtUPR) or mitochondrial-derived vesicles (MDVs). These processes are important for the maintenance of mitochondrial homeostasis, and alterations in the mitochondrial function and signaling are known to contribute to the dysregulation of cell death pathways. Recent studies have uncovered regulatory mechanisms that control the activity of the key components for mitophagy. In this review, we discuss how mitophagy is controlled and how mitophagy impinges on health and disease through regulating cell death.

Highlights

Mitochondria, which are present in all the eukaryotic cells, are important organelles that can be seen under an optical microscope upon appropriately staining
Around 1890, German biologist Richard Altmann first discovered small rodshaped and granular structures in animal cells. Benda named these structures as mitochondria in 1898, and within the 100 years, researchers gradually discovered that mitochondria as unique organelles play an important role in producing the bulk of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by the oxidative phosphorylation process recognized as the powerhouses of the cell [1, 2]
Mitochondria have evolved a variety of mitochondrial quality control mechanisms, which are constantly involved in biogenesis, mitochondrial dynamics, mitophagy, and other mitochondrial proteostasis mechanisms such as mitochondrial unfolded protein response or mitochondrial-derived vesicles (MDVs), to ensure that the necessary number of functional mitochondria maintains the demands and function of the cell [3, 5]

Summary

Introduction

Mitochondria, which are present in all the eukaryotic cells, are important organelles that can be seen under an optical microscope upon appropriately staining. Around 1890, German biologist Richard Altmann first discovered small rodshaped and granular structures in animal cells Benda named these structures as mitochondria in 1898, and within the 100 years, researchers gradually discovered that mitochondria as unique organelles play an important role in producing the bulk of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by the oxidative phosphorylation process recognized as the powerhouses of the cell [1, 2]. Widespread damage to mitochondria causes cells to die because they can no longer produce enough energy For these reasons, mitochondria have evolved a variety of mitochondrial quality control mechanisms, which are constantly involved in biogenesis, mitochondrial dynamics, mitophagy, and other mitochondrial proteostasis mechanisms such as mitochondrial unfolded protein response (mtUPR) or mitochondrial-derived vesicles (MDVs), to ensure that the necessary number of functional mitochondria maintains the demands and function of the cell [3, 5].

Mitophagy

The Signaling Pathways of Mitophagy

Mitophagy and Cell Death

Conclusion