home.social

#apoptosis — Public Fediverse posts

Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #apoptosis, aggregated by home.social.

  1. Sustained high progesterone during pregnancy can improve menstrual cyclicity in PCOS patients

    Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 6%−20% of reproductive-aged women, and is commonly accompanied by irregular menstrual cycles and…
    #NewsBeep #News #Health #Apoptosis #AU #Australia #Cell #Hormone #Infertility #menstrualcycle #Metabolism #MouseModel #polycysticovarysyndrome #pregnancy #Progesterone #Syndrome
    newsbeep.com/au/473361/

  2. `We report that plasma concentrations of ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1) and neurofilament light (NfL) become exponentially higher from ages 2 to 85 in cross-sectional samples, serving as neuronal death/damage biomarkers across the lifespan.`

    cell.com/cell-reports-medicine

    #biomarker #lifespan #aging #biology #ubiquitin #apoptosis #neuron #neuronal #neuroscience #neurodegeneration #disease #brain

  3. `We report that plasma concentrations of ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1) and neurofilament light (NfL) become exponentially higher from ages 2 to 85 in cross-sectional samples, serving as neuronal death/damage biomarkers across the lifespan.`

    cell.com/cell-reports-medicine

    #biomarker #lifespan #aging #biology #ubiquitin #apoptosis #neuron #neuronal #neuroscience #neurodegeneration #disease #brain

  4. Caspases have well known roles in #apoptosis, but roles in other cellular processes are emerging... This study shows that #caspase -3 & -7 promote cytoprotective #autophagy in response to non-lethal stress by modulating PARP1 activity in #BreastCancer cells #plosbiology plos.io/41xfLVm

  5. Caspases have well known roles in #apoptosis, but roles in other cellular processes are emerging... This study shows that #caspase -3 & -7 promote cytoprotective #autophagy in response to non-lethal stress by modulating PARP1 activity in #BreastCancer cells #plosbiology plos.io/41xfLVm

  6. ~60% of germ cells in #Celegans hermaphrodites are eliminated in meiotic prophase to maintain tissue homeostasis, but how? This study shows that size of meiotic #GermCells is reduced by apical #actomyosin constriction, leading to #apoptosis #PLOSBiology plos.io/4g4hpTE

  7. ~60% of germ cells in #Celegans hermaphrodites are eliminated in meiotic prophase to maintain tissue homeostasis, but how? This study shows that size of meiotic #GermCells is reduced by apical #actomyosin constriction, leading to #apoptosis #PLOSBiology plos.io/4g4hpTE

  8. 📣 A new star is born in the cilia world and cell death galaxy: Emilia Kieckhöfer brilliantly defended her PhD today! Congratulations!!! 🎉🥳👍

    #cilia #necroptosis #bbs #raredisease #ciliopathies #celldeath #apoptosis #kidney #cysts #Nphp #Zilien

    @cilia
    @SFB1403 @CECAD
    @UniKoeln

  9. 📣 A new star is born in the cilia world and cell death galaxy: Emilia Kieckhöfer brilliantly defended her PhD today! Congratulations!!! 🎉🥳👍

    #cilia #necroptosis #bbs #raredisease #ciliopathies #celldeath #apoptosis #kidney #cysts #Nphp #Zilien

    @cilia
    @SFB1403 @CECAD
    @UniKoeln

  10. 📣 A new star is born in the cilia world and cell death galaxy: Emilia Kieckhöfer brilliantly defended her PhD today! Congratulations!!! 🎉🥳👍

    #cilia #necroptosis #bbs #raredisease #ciliopathies #celldeath #apoptosis #kidney #cysts #Nphp #Zilien

    @cilia
    @SFB1403 @CECAD
    @UniKoeln

  11. 📣 A new star is born in the cilia world and cell death galaxy: Emilia Kieckhöfer brilliantly defended her PhD today! Congratulations!!! 🎉🥳👍

    #cilia #necroptosis #bbs #raredisease #ciliopathies #celldeath #apoptosis #kidney #cysts #Nphp #Zilien

    @cilia
    @SFB1403 @CECAD
    @UniKoeln

  12. #Marijuana Extract Can Kill #Melanoma Cells, New Study Reveals Possible Treatment For #SkinCancer

    Story by Nina Zdinjak

    February 8, 2024

    "A new study indicates #cannabis has the potential to treat melanoma, a skin cancer beginning in the melanocyte cells, which make the pigment that gives skin its color.

    "Melanoma typically results from over-exposure to the sun. While skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States, melanoma accounts for only about 1%, yet causes a large majority of skin cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society.

    "New research published in a peer-reviewed Cell Journal conducted by scientists from Charles Darwin University (CDU) and RMIT University offers hope for the creation of a natural treatment for melanoma.

    "The study, part of a Ph.D. project by RMIT's Dr. Ava Bachari, showed that a specific cannabis extract (#PHEX66) from the #CannabisSativa plant binds to receptor sites on particular melanoma cells, controlling its growth at two key phases and increasing the amount of damage to these cells.

    "Dr. Nazim Nassar, the study co-author and CDU pharmaceutical lecturer said this damage practically tricks cells into killing itself, writes Mirage News. This inhibitory effect arises from interactions with #CB1 and #CB2 receptors, the paper reads.

    "'The damage to the melanoma cell prevents it from dividing into new cells, and instead begins a programmed cell death, also known as #apoptosis,' Dr. Nassar said. 'This is a growing area of important research because we need to understand cannabis extracts as much as possible, especially their potential to function as anticancer agents. If we know how they react to cancer cells, particularly in the cause of cell death, we can refine treatment techniques to be more specific, responsive and effective'.

    "According to Nassar, who specializes in cancer cell biology, pharmacology and drug delivery systems, the next step should be to create a targeted delivery system for the melanoma cells in preparation for pre-clinical trials.

    "'Clinical uses of cannabis extracts include treatment for anxiety, cancer-related symptoms, epilepsy, and chronic pain. Intensive research into its potential for killing melanoma cells is only the start as we investigate how this knowledge can be applied to treating different types of cancers,' Nassar said.

    "Professor Nitin Mantir, lead author and RMIT biotechnologist, said there needs to be a thorough follow-up to assess the long-term efficiency and safety of the PHEC-66 extract.

    "'The subsequent stage involves animal studies or pre-clinical trials to validate and further explore the efficacy of cannabinoid PHEC-66 in treating melanoma and other cancers,' Mantri said.

    "Both authors stressed the need for support and sponsorship to eventually qualify PHEC-66 as a registered medicine."

    Link to related article:
    cdu.edu.au/news/new-study-reve

    Original link is 404:
    msn.com/en-us/health/other/mar

  13. #Marijuana Extract Can Kill #Melanoma Cells, New Study Reveals Possible Treatment For #SkinCancer

    Story by Nina Zdinjak

    February 8, 2024

    "A new study indicates #cannabis has the potential to treat melanoma, a skin cancer beginning in the melanocyte cells, which make the pigment that gives skin its color.

    "Melanoma typically results from over-exposure to the sun. While skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States, melanoma accounts for only about 1%, yet causes a large majority of skin cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society.

    "New research published in a peer-reviewed Cell Journal conducted by scientists from Charles Darwin University (CDU) and RMIT University offers hope for the creation of a natural treatment for melanoma.

    "The study, part of a Ph.D. project by RMIT's Dr. Ava Bachari, showed that a specific cannabis extract (#PHEX66) from the #CannabisSativa plant binds to receptor sites on particular melanoma cells, controlling its growth at two key phases and increasing the amount of damage to these cells.

    "Dr. Nazim Nassar, the study co-author and CDU pharmaceutical lecturer said this damage practically tricks cells into killing itself, writes Mirage News. This inhibitory effect arises from interactions with #CB1 and #CB2 receptors, the paper reads.

    "'The damage to the melanoma cell prevents it from dividing into new cells, and instead begins a programmed cell death, also known as #apoptosis,' Dr. Nassar said. 'This is a growing area of important research because we need to understand cannabis extracts as much as possible, especially their potential to function as anticancer agents. If we know how they react to cancer cells, particularly in the cause of cell death, we can refine treatment techniques to be more specific, responsive and effective'.

    "According to Nassar, who specializes in cancer cell biology, pharmacology and drug delivery systems, the next step should be to create a targeted delivery system for the melanoma cells in preparation for pre-clinical trials.

    "'Clinical uses of cannabis extracts include treatment for anxiety, cancer-related symptoms, epilepsy, and chronic pain. Intensive research into its potential for killing melanoma cells is only the start as we investigate how this knowledge can be applied to treating different types of cancers,' Nassar said.

    "Professor Nitin Mantir, lead author and RMIT biotechnologist, said there needs to be a thorough follow-up to assess the long-term efficiency and safety of the PHEC-66 extract.

    "'The subsequent stage involves animal studies or pre-clinical trials to validate and further explore the efficacy of cannabinoid PHEC-66 in treating melanoma and other cancers,' Mantri said.

    "Both authors stressed the need for support and sponsorship to eventually qualify PHEC-66 as a registered medicine."

    Link to related article:
    cdu.edu.au/news/new-study-reve

    Original link is 404:
    msn.com/en-us/health/other/mar

  14. Here's a transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image of #bone showing mineralized #collagen and an #osteocyte lacuna containing microcalcifications of #apatite and #whitlockite.

    Such #calcification or #mineral formation is part of normal physiological processes such as #apoptosis but can also indicate #pathology.

    The specimen was prepared using focussed ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM).

    Read more:
    pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/a

    #ThinSectionThursday #Biomaterials #ElectronMicroscopy

  15. Here's a transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image of #bone showing mineralized #collagen and an #osteocyte lacuna containing microcalcifications of #apatite and #whitlockite.

    Such #calcification or #mineral formation is part of normal physiological processes such as #apoptosis but can also indicate #pathology.

    The specimen was prepared using focussed ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM).

    Read more:
    pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/a

    #ThinSectionThursday #Biomaterials #ElectronMicroscopy

  16. "Our findings underscore the importance of cell death in defense against intracellular bacterial pathogens and provide an example of how layered and hierarchical immune pathways can provide robust defense against pathogens that have evolved a broad arsenal of virulence factors."

    #Shigella #HostPathogen #CellDeath #Apoptosis #InnateImmunity #Pathogen #Microbiology #Immunology

    elifesciences.org/articles/836

  17. "Our findings underscore the importance of cell death in defense against intracellular bacterial pathogens and provide an example of how layered and hierarchical immune pathways can provide robust defense against pathogens that have evolved a broad arsenal of virulence factors."

    #Shigella #HostPathogen #CellDeath #Apoptosis #InnateImmunity #Pathogen #Microbiology #Immunology

    elifesciences.org/articles/836

  18. A carnivorous #fungus (#Pleurotus ostreatus, the common oyster #mushroom!) kills #nematodes with a toxin that paralyses the worm and triggers #apoptosis. The toxin is a ketone that is stored in toxocysts that release their content when the worm touches them.
    The dissolved worm then is then fed on by the mushroom.
    science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv

    #carnivory #Sporespondence

  19. A carnivorous #fungus (#Pleurotus ostreatus, the common oyster #mushroom!) kills #nematodes with a toxin that paralyses the worm and triggers #apoptosis. The toxin is a ketone that is stored in toxocysts that release their content when the worm touches them.
    The dissolved worm then is then fed on by the mushroom.
    science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv

    #carnivory #Sporespondence

  20. How Mitochondrial Dynamism Orchestrates Mitophagy

    Authors Orian S. Shirihai, Moshi Song, Gerald W. Dorn II

    #explainpaper @explainpaper

    Understanding the Significance of Mitochondrial Fission and Fusion

    Mitochondrial dynamics refers to the movement of #mitochondria within a cell. This includes #fission, which is when mitochondria divide into two parts, #fusion, which is when two mitochondria join together, and #translocation, which is when mitochondria move from one part of the #cell to another. This movement is important for maintaining the stability of the mitochondrial #DNA, which is the genetic material found in mitochondria, and for controlling the cell's #respiration. It can also be involved in programmed #CellDeath. In the #heart, mitochondrial dynamics #protein s, such as #mitofusin s, optic #atrophy, and dynamin-related protein, are highly expressed and play an important role in maintaining the quality of the #mitochondria. Other roles for mitochondrial dynamics proteins in the #heart include helping to move #calcium into the mitochondria and regulating the structure of the mitochondria.

    #Mitochondria are organelles in cells that are responsible for producing #energy. They can change their structure by breaking apart (#fission) and reforming (#fusion). This process is complicated and energy intensive, so it is important to understand why it is necessary. One reason may be that when cells divide, the mitochondria need to be divided equally between the two daughter cells. This requires the #mitochondria to be broken apart and then reformed in each daughter #cell. This process of breaking apart and reforming is more efficient than growing and budding the mitochondria. To help explain this process, the authors use the analogy of an army. Each soldier in the army is like a protein in the mitochondria, and the different units of the army are like the different parts of the #mitochondria. To increase the size of the army, units are added, rather than individual soldiers. This is similar to how mitochondria are modified, by adding or subtracting intact functional units, rather than individual #protein s.

    Mitochondria are #organelle s in cells that can change their physical structure by undergoing fission. Fission can be symmetrical, which is when mitochondria replicate and expand the number of #mitochondria in the #cell, or asymmetrical, which is when damaged components of the mitochondria are removed. The major #protein that helps with mitochondrial fission is called Drp1. It is mostly found in the #cytosol, but it needs to be recruited to the outer mitochondrial #membrane to help with fission. Different factors can cause Drp1 to be recruited, such as phosphorylation by mitotic kinase cyclin B–cyclin-dependent-kinase (cdk) 1 complex during #cell division, or interacting with Bcl-2–associated protein x during #apoptosis. Inhibiting Drp1 can protect cells from some, but not all, forms of programmed cell death.

    Mitochondria, which are organelles in cells, can be partitioned in #mitosis. The most efficient way to do this is by dismantling and then reconstituting the cellular #mitochondria network through sequential #organelle fission, distribution, and refusion. To explain this concept, the text uses an analogy of how military units are constituted and managed within an army's hierarchical organization structure. In this analogy, each soldier represents an individual respiratory complex #protein, which are grouped together to form a squad (analogous to a respiratory complex). Squads are arranged into platoons, and approximately 6 platoons comprise a functional unit, the company (like 1 complete respiratory chain). The text suggests that it would be easier to add prefabricated supercomplexes to preexisting ones, as by fusing mitochondrial cristae, rather than trying to make a larger or different shaped mitochondrion through the wholesale incorporation of individual proteins. This is because making major structural modifications of respiratory supercomplexes on paracrystalline cristal membranes would first require destabilizing the #membrane, then incorporating additional individual #protein components, and finally reconstructing the original highly organized structure, which is complicated and potentially disruptive.

    #Mitochondria are small organelles in cells that can change their physical structure by undergoing fission. Fission can be symmetrical, which means the #mitochondria are split into two equal parts, or asymmetrical, which means the mitochondria are split into two unequal parts. Symmetrical fission is used to replicate and expand the number of mitochondria in the #cell, while asymmetrical fission is used to remove damaged mitochondria from the cell. The major #protein responsible for mitochondrial fission is called Drp1. Drp1 is mostly found in the cytosol, but it needs to be recruited to the outer mitochondrial #membrane to promote fission. Different factors can stimulate Drp1 to move to the outer mitochondrial #membrane, such as phosphorylation by mitotic kinase cyclin B–cyclin-dependent-kinase (cdk) 1 complex. In addition, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is often found at the sites of mitochondrial fission. If Drp1 is not present, the mitochondria can still fragment during #mitosis, suggesting that there are other mechanisms that can promote mitochondrial fission.

    The text is talking about the process of mitochondrial fission, which is a process that involves connecting and separating parts of a #mitochondria. The author uses the metaphor of making sausage links to explain the process, but then goes on to explain that mitochondria are actually more like a turducken, which is a dish made of a chicken stuffed inside a duck stuffed inside a turkey. This creates layers of poultry, which is similar to the double #membrane /double space structure of #mitochondria. The author then explains that the process of mitochondrial fusion involves connecting the two mitochondria layer by layer, using proteins called mitofusins. Mitofusins have a #GTPase domain, two hydrophobic heptad repeat coiled-coil domains, and a small hydrophobic transmembrane domain. These proteins insert into the outer #membrane of the #mitochondria, and can interact with other proteins in the cytosol. The process of mitochondrial fusion is GTP-independent and reversible, but #GTP #hydrolysis is essential for irreversible outer membrane fusion.

    #Mitofusins are proteins that are essential for the first two stages of mitochondrial fusion, which is the process of two mitochondria joining together. This process is important for the exchange of information between the #mitochondria and the #cell. If the mitofusins are deleted or suppressed, the mitochondria become abnormally small and are unable to undergo normal fusion. This can have serious implications for the health of the #cell.

    Membrane-by-membrane mitochondrial fusion is a process that helps to keep the structure of the inner and outer membranes of #mitochondria intact. This helps to preserve the process of oxidative phosphorylation, which is important for providing energy to cells. Without this process, molecules that can be toxic to cells can form and interrupt the electron transport chain. This process is also important for maintaining the normal shape of the crista, which is necessary for the proper assembly and functioning of electron transport chain supercomplexes. In addition, it has been shown that interrupting Mfn-mediated OMM fusion can cause a #cardiomyocyte ER stress response, while interrupting Opa1-mediated IMM fusion can compromise mitochondrial function.

    Mitochondrial fission and fusion are important processes in #biology, as evidenced by the fact that mutations in genes related to these processes can cause serious diseases in humans. Altering the balance between fission and fusion can have an effect on the shape of #mitochondria, with more fusion leading to longer, more interconnected mitochondria, and more fission leading to shorter, less interconnected mitochondria. It is generally thought that more interconnected #mitochondria are healthier, but this is not always the case. In some cases, mitochondrial #fragmentation can be beneficial, and it is important to understand the interplay between mitochondrial fragmentation and other processes, such as #mitophagy, in order to understand the effects of mitochondrial fission and fusion.

    Mitophagy is a process by which cells eat their own #mitochondria. Mitochondria are organelles that produce energy in the form of #ATP, which is used to power most biological processes. Over time, mitochondria can become damaged and produce toxic levels of reactive oxygen species ( #ROS ). To protect the #cell from this damage, it has developed a sophisticated system to identify and remove these dysfunctional #mitochondria. This process is called mitophagy. #Mitophagy is a combination of the words mitochondria and #autophagy, which means "self-eating". It is a way for cells to selectively target and remove damaged mitochondria, while still keeping healthy ones. This helps to maintain the balance between having enough energy-producing #mitochondria and getting rid of the ones that are no longer functioning properly.

    Pulse chase experiments are a type of scientific experiment used to study the behavior of molecules over time. In this particular experiment, researchers found that when #mitochondria (the energy-producing organelles in cells) are targeted for #mitophagy (a process of removing damaged mitochondria from the cell), they have a relatively depolarized #membrane potential before being removed. This means that the #mitochondria have a lower electrical charge than normal, and they are less likely to be involved in #fusion events (when two mitochondria join together). The time between the mitochondria becoming depolarized and being removed from the cell can range from less than an hour to about three hours, suggesting that there is a population of preautophagic #mitochondria (mitochondria that are about to be removed). This #preautophagic pool helps to explain the variation in mitochondrial #membrane potential in different cell types. The process that feeds mitochondria into the preautophagic pool is important for determining how quickly #mitochondria are removed from the #cell. Scientists have developed a technology to label individual mitochondria and track their #membrane potential, which has allowed them to identify the event at which depolarized #mitochondria are produced. This event is called asymmetrical fission, and it occurs when the daughter mitochondria produced by the fission event have different #membrane potentials - one daughter has a higher membrane potential than the mother mitochondrion, while the other daughter has a lower membrane potential. This process of asymmetrical fission helps to separate damaged components from healthy components before they are removed from the #cell.

    The concept of mitochondrial fission and fusion and how it affects mitochondrial quality. It suggests that when the fusion factors Mfn1 and Mfn2 are both absent, unusually small and degenerated #mitochondria accumulate in adult mouse hearts. This was associated with impaired #cardiomyocyte respiration, but not with measurable alterations in #oxygen consumption. It was later discovered that the isolation procedure used was not capturing the fragmented #mitochondria produced by interrupting mitochondrial fusion. This led to the discovery that Mfn2 is essential to #Parkin-mediated #mitophagy, which is a process that helps to maintain mitochondrial quality. Three recent papers have also implicated the mitochondrial fission protein Drp1 in cardiac #mitophagy, and it is suggested that if asymmetrical mitochondrial fission normally precedes mitophagy, then chronic suppression of fission by ablating Drp1 would have different consequences on #mitophagy depending on when it is assayed.

    Mfn2 and PINK1–Parkin Mitophagy Signaling is a mechanism for controlling the quality of #mitochondria in the body. #PINK1 and #Parkin are proteins that are linked to #Parkinson's disease, and mutations in their genes were the first to be identified as causing the disease. Scientists have studied how PINK1 interacts with Parkin, and how this interaction can lead to the destruction of damaged #mitochondria, which is called #mitophagy. #PINK1 is like an ignition switch that senses when mitochondrial damage has occurred, and then activates Parkin-mediated mitophagy. PINK1 is normally not present in healthy #mitochondria, but when mitochondrial damage occurs, PINK1 accumulates and triggers the destruction of the damaged #mitochondria.

    PINK1 is a protein that accumulates on damaged mitochondria and helps to promote mitophagy, which is the process of getting rid of damaged mitochondria. PINK1 does this by inducing the cytosolic protein Parkin to move to the mitochondria and ubiquitinate proteins on the outer membrane of the mitochondria. This helps to prevent the spread of damage from the damaged mitochondria to the healthy ones. PINK1 also inhibits the fusion of the damaged mitochondria. There are different theories about the biochemical events that cause Parkin to move to the mitochondria and stop the fusion. It is thought that PINK1 phosphorylates Parkin on certain sites, which helps Parkin bind to the mitochondria. It is also thought that PINK1 phosphorylates ubiquitin, which helps Parkin bind to the mitochondria and ubiquitinate proteins on the outer membrane. Finally, it is thought that PINK1 phosphorylates Mfn2, which helps Parkin bind to the mitochondria and ubiquitinate proteins on the outer membrane. All of these processes help to promote mitophagy and prevent the spread of damage from the damaged mitochondria to the healthy ones.

    #PINK1 is a protein that plays an important role in a process called #mitophagy, which is a form of quality control for mitochondria. Mutations in the #PINK1 #gene have been linked to hereditary #Parkinson's disease in humans, but when the PINK1 gene is deleted in mice, it does not cause the same #neurodegenerative pattern seen in humans. Even when the genes for PINK1, Parkin, and DJ-1 are all deleted in mice, it still does not cause the same loss of dopaminergic #neuron s seen in #Parkinson's disease patients. This suggests that there may be other pathways that can compensate for the loss of #PINK1 and #Parkin, such as increased transcription of other E3 #ubiquitin ligases in the hearts of Parkin-knockout mice.

    The text is discussing the idea of mitochondrial quality control pathways, which are processes that help keep mitochondria healthy. The text is suggesting that there may be alternate pathways that can be used to maintain mitochondrial health, rather than waiting until the mitochondria are completely depolarized before triggering their removal. It is comparing this idea to the idea of maintaining a car, where it is better to perform regular maintenance and repairs rather than waiting until the car is completely broken down before replacing it.

    Like a car, mitochondria can be maintained through preventative maintenance, such as replacing worn parts, and that more serious damage can be repaired by removing and replacing individual components. It also suggests that, like a car, #mitochondria can be repaired by removing and replacing damaged parts, but on a smaller scale. The different types of maintenance and repair may be part of a continuum, rather than distinct categories.

    #Mitophagy and mitochondrial dynamism are two processes that are closely connected. Mitophagy is the process of removing damaged #mitochondria from the #cell, while mitochondrial dynamism is the process of mitochondria fusing together and separating. The two processes work together to keep the cell healthy by eliminating damaged mitochondria and preventing healthy mitochondria from being contaminated by the damaged ones. The protein #Mfn2 plays a role in both processes, acting as a factor for mitochondrial fusion when it is not acted on by #PINK1 and as a receptor for #Parkin when it is. This suggests that the two processes are mutually exclusive, meaning that they cannot happen at the same time. This helps to protect healthy #mitochondria from being contaminated by the damaged ones. Finally, the involvement of PINK1 and Parkin in multiple mitochondrial quality control mechanisms shows that there are multiple ways to keep the #mitochondria healthy, which is important for preventing chronic degenerative diseases and providing opportunities for #therapeutic intervention.

  21. How Mitochondrial Dynamism Orchestrates Mitophagy

    Authors Orian S. Shirihai, Moshi Song, Gerald W. Dorn II

    #explainpaper @explainpaper

    Understanding the Significance of Mitochondrial Fission and Fusion

    Mitochondrial dynamics refers to the movement of #mitochondria within a cell. This includes #fission, which is when mitochondria divide into two parts, #fusion, which is when two mitochondria join together, and #translocation, which is when mitochondria move from one part of the #cell to another. This movement is important for maintaining the stability of the mitochondrial #DNA, which is the genetic material found in mitochondria, and for controlling the cell's #respiration. It can also be involved in programmed #CellDeath. In the #heart, mitochondrial dynamics #protein s, such as #mitofusin s, optic #atrophy, and dynamin-related protein, are highly expressed and play an important role in maintaining the quality of the #mitochondria. Other roles for mitochondrial dynamics proteins in the #heart include helping to move #calcium into the mitochondria and regulating the structure of the mitochondria.

    #Mitochondria are organelles in cells that are responsible for producing #energy. They can change their structure by breaking apart (#fission) and reforming (#fusion). This process is complicated and energy intensive, so it is important to understand why it is necessary. One reason may be that when cells divide, the mitochondria need to be divided equally between the two daughter cells. This requires the #mitochondria to be broken apart and then reformed in each daughter #cell. This process of breaking apart and reforming is more efficient than growing and budding the mitochondria. To help explain this process, the authors use the analogy of an army. Each soldier in the army is like a protein in the mitochondria, and the different units of the army are like the different parts of the #mitochondria. To increase the size of the army, units are added, rather than individual soldiers. This is similar to how mitochondria are modified, by adding or subtracting intact functional units, rather than individual #protein s.

    Mitochondria are #organelle s in cells that can change their physical structure by undergoing fission. Fission can be symmetrical, which is when mitochondria replicate and expand the number of #mitochondria in the #cell, or asymmetrical, which is when damaged components of the mitochondria are removed. The major #protein that helps with mitochondrial fission is called Drp1. It is mostly found in the #cytosol, but it needs to be recruited to the outer mitochondrial #membrane to help with fission. Different factors can cause Drp1 to be recruited, such as phosphorylation by mitotic kinase cyclin B–cyclin-dependent-kinase (cdk) 1 complex during #cell division, or interacting with Bcl-2–associated protein x during #apoptosis. Inhibiting Drp1 can protect cells from some, but not all, forms of programmed cell death.

    Mitochondria, which are organelles in cells, can be partitioned in #mitosis. The most efficient way to do this is by dismantling and then reconstituting the cellular #mitochondria network through sequential #organelle fission, distribution, and refusion. To explain this concept, the text uses an analogy of how military units are constituted and managed within an army's hierarchical organization structure. In this analogy, each soldier represents an individual respiratory complex #protein, which are grouped together to form a squad (analogous to a respiratory complex). Squads are arranged into platoons, and approximately 6 platoons comprise a functional unit, the company (like 1 complete respiratory chain). The text suggests that it would be easier to add prefabricated supercomplexes to preexisting ones, as by fusing mitochondrial cristae, rather than trying to make a larger or different shaped mitochondrion through the wholesale incorporation of individual proteins. This is because making major structural modifications of respiratory supercomplexes on paracrystalline cristal membranes would first require destabilizing the #membrane, then incorporating additional individual #protein components, and finally reconstructing the original highly organized structure, which is complicated and potentially disruptive.

    #Mitochondria are small organelles in cells that can change their physical structure by undergoing fission. Fission can be symmetrical, which means the #mitochondria are split into two equal parts, or asymmetrical, which means the mitochondria are split into two unequal parts. Symmetrical fission is used to replicate and expand the number of mitochondria in the #cell, while asymmetrical fission is used to remove damaged mitochondria from the cell. The major #protein responsible for mitochondrial fission is called Drp1. Drp1 is mostly found in the cytosol, but it needs to be recruited to the outer mitochondrial #membrane to promote fission. Different factors can stimulate Drp1 to move to the outer mitochondrial #membrane, such as phosphorylation by mitotic kinase cyclin B–cyclin-dependent-kinase (cdk) 1 complex. In addition, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is often found at the sites of mitochondrial fission. If Drp1 is not present, the mitochondria can still fragment during #mitosis, suggesting that there are other mechanisms that can promote mitochondrial fission.

    The text is talking about the process of mitochondrial fission, which is a process that involves connecting and separating parts of a #mitochondria. The author uses the metaphor of making sausage links to explain the process, but then goes on to explain that mitochondria are actually more like a turducken, which is a dish made of a chicken stuffed inside a duck stuffed inside a turkey. This creates layers of poultry, which is similar to the double #membrane /double space structure of #mitochondria. The author then explains that the process of mitochondrial fusion involves connecting the two mitochondria layer by layer, using proteins called mitofusins. Mitofusins have a #GTPase domain, two hydrophobic heptad repeat coiled-coil domains, and a small hydrophobic transmembrane domain. These proteins insert into the outer #membrane of the #mitochondria, and can interact with other proteins in the cytosol. The process of mitochondrial fusion is GTP-independent and reversible, but #GTP #hydrolysis is essential for irreversible outer membrane fusion.

    #Mitofusins are proteins that are essential for the first two stages of mitochondrial fusion, which is the process of two mitochondria joining together. This process is important for the exchange of information between the #mitochondria and the #cell. If the mitofusins are deleted or suppressed, the mitochondria become abnormally small and are unable to undergo normal fusion. This can have serious implications for the health of the #cell.

    Membrane-by-membrane mitochondrial fusion is a process that helps to keep the structure of the inner and outer membranes of #mitochondria intact. This helps to preserve the process of oxidative phosphorylation, which is important for providing energy to cells. Without this process, molecules that can be toxic to cells can form and interrupt the electron transport chain. This process is also important for maintaining the normal shape of the crista, which is necessary for the proper assembly and functioning of electron transport chain supercomplexes. In addition, it has been shown that interrupting Mfn-mediated OMM fusion can cause a #cardiomyocyte ER stress response, while interrupting Opa1-mediated IMM fusion can compromise mitochondrial function.

    Mitochondrial fission and fusion are important processes in #biology, as evidenced by the fact that mutations in genes related to these processes can cause serious diseases in humans. Altering the balance between fission and fusion can have an effect on the shape of #mitochondria, with more fusion leading to longer, more interconnected mitochondria, and more fission leading to shorter, less interconnected mitochondria. It is generally thought that more interconnected #mitochondria are healthier, but this is not always the case. In some cases, mitochondrial #fragmentation can be beneficial, and it is important to understand the interplay between mitochondrial fragmentation and other processes, such as #mitophagy, in order to understand the effects of mitochondrial fission and fusion.

    Mitophagy is a process by which cells eat their own #mitochondria. Mitochondria are organelles that produce energy in the form of #ATP, which is used to power most biological processes. Over time, mitochondria can become damaged and produce toxic levels of reactive oxygen species ( #ROS ). To protect the #cell from this damage, it has developed a sophisticated system to identify and remove these dysfunctional #mitochondria. This process is called mitophagy. #Mitophagy is a combination of the words mitochondria and #autophagy, which means "self-eating". It is a way for cells to selectively target and remove damaged mitochondria, while still keeping healthy ones. This helps to maintain the balance between having enough energy-producing #mitochondria and getting rid of the ones that are no longer functioning properly.

    Pulse chase experiments are a type of scientific experiment used to study the behavior of molecules over time. In this particular experiment, researchers found that when #mitochondria (the energy-producing organelles in cells) are targeted for #mitophagy (a process of removing damaged mitochondria from the cell), they have a relatively depolarized #membrane potential before being removed. This means that the #mitochondria have a lower electrical charge than normal, and they are less likely to be involved in #fusion events (when two mitochondria join together). The time between the mitochondria becoming depolarized and being removed from the cell can range from less than an hour to about three hours, suggesting that there is a population of preautophagic #mitochondria (mitochondria that are about to be removed). This #preautophagic pool helps to explain the variation in mitochondrial #membrane potential in different cell types. The process that feeds mitochondria into the preautophagic pool is important for determining how quickly #mitochondria are removed from the #cell. Scientists have developed a technology to label individual mitochondria and track their #membrane potential, which has allowed them to identify the event at which depolarized #mitochondria are produced. This event is called asymmetrical fission, and it occurs when the daughter mitochondria produced by the fission event have different #membrane potentials - one daughter has a higher membrane potential than the mother mitochondrion, while the other daughter has a lower membrane potential. This process of asymmetrical fission helps to separate damaged components from healthy components before they are removed from the #cell.

    The concept of mitochondrial fission and fusion and how it affects mitochondrial quality. It suggests that when the fusion factors Mfn1 and Mfn2 are both absent, unusually small and degenerated #mitochondria accumulate in adult mouse hearts. This was associated with impaired #cardiomyocyte respiration, but not with measurable alterations in #oxygen consumption. It was later discovered that the isolation procedure used was not capturing the fragmented #mitochondria produced by interrupting mitochondrial fusion. This led to the discovery that Mfn2 is essential to #Parkin-mediated #mitophagy, which is a process that helps to maintain mitochondrial quality. Three recent papers have also implicated the mitochondrial fission protein Drp1 in cardiac #mitophagy, and it is suggested that if asymmetrical mitochondrial fission normally precedes mitophagy, then chronic suppression of fission by ablating Drp1 would have different consequences on #mitophagy depending on when it is assayed.

    Mfn2 and PINK1–Parkin Mitophagy Signaling is a mechanism for controlling the quality of #mitochondria in the body. #PINK1 and #Parkin are proteins that are linked to #Parkinson's disease, and mutations in their genes were the first to be identified as causing the disease. Scientists have studied how PINK1 interacts with Parkin, and how this interaction can lead to the destruction of damaged #mitochondria, which is called #mitophagy. #PINK1 is like an ignition switch that senses when mitochondrial damage has occurred, and then activates Parkin-mediated mitophagy. PINK1 is normally not present in healthy #mitochondria, but when mitochondrial damage occurs, PINK1 accumulates and triggers the destruction of the damaged #mitochondria.

    PINK1 is a protein that accumulates on damaged mitochondria and helps to promote mitophagy, which is the process of getting rid of damaged mitochondria. PINK1 does this by inducing the cytosolic protein Parkin to move to the mitochondria and ubiquitinate proteins on the outer membrane of the mitochondria. This helps to prevent the spread of damage from the damaged mitochondria to the healthy ones. PINK1 also inhibits the fusion of the damaged mitochondria. There are different theories about the biochemical events that cause Parkin to move to the mitochondria and stop the fusion. It is thought that PINK1 phosphorylates Parkin on certain sites, which helps Parkin bind to the mitochondria. It is also thought that PINK1 phosphorylates ubiquitin, which helps Parkin bind to the mitochondria and ubiquitinate proteins on the outer membrane. Finally, it is thought that PINK1 phosphorylates Mfn2, which helps Parkin bind to the mitochondria and ubiquitinate proteins on the outer membrane. All of these processes help to promote mitophagy and prevent the spread of damage from the damaged mitochondria to the healthy ones.

    #PINK1 is a protein that plays an important role in a process called #mitophagy, which is a form of quality control for mitochondria. Mutations in the #PINK1 #gene have been linked to hereditary #Parkinson's disease in humans, but when the PINK1 gene is deleted in mice, it does not cause the same #neurodegenerative pattern seen in humans. Even when the genes for PINK1, Parkin, and DJ-1 are all deleted in mice, it still does not cause the same loss of dopaminergic #neuron s seen in #Parkinson's disease patients. This suggests that there may be other pathways that can compensate for the loss of #PINK1 and #Parkin, such as increased transcription of other E3 #ubiquitin ligases in the hearts of Parkin-knockout mice.

    The text is discussing the idea of mitochondrial quality control pathways, which are processes that help keep mitochondria healthy. The text is suggesting that there may be alternate pathways that can be used to maintain mitochondrial health, rather than waiting until the mitochondria are completely depolarized before triggering their removal. It is comparing this idea to the idea of maintaining a car, where it is better to perform regular maintenance and repairs rather than waiting until the car is completely broken down before replacing it.

    Like a car, mitochondria can be maintained through preventative maintenance, such as replacing worn parts, and that more serious damage can be repaired by removing and replacing individual components. It also suggests that, like a car, #mitochondria can be repaired by removing and replacing damaged parts, but on a smaller scale. The different types of maintenance and repair may be part of a continuum, rather than distinct categories.

    #Mitophagy and mitochondrial dynamism are two processes that are closely connected. Mitophagy is the process of removing damaged #mitochondria from the #cell, while mitochondrial dynamism is the process of mitochondria fusing together and separating. The two processes work together to keep the cell healthy by eliminating damaged mitochondria and preventing healthy mitochondria from being contaminated by the damaged ones. The protein #Mfn2 plays a role in both processes, acting as a factor for mitochondrial fusion when it is not acted on by #PINK1 and as a receptor for #Parkin when it is. This suggests that the two processes are mutually exclusive, meaning that they cannot happen at the same time. This helps to protect healthy #mitochondria from being contaminated by the damaged ones. Finally, the involvement of PINK1 and Parkin in multiple mitochondrial quality control mechanisms shows that there are multiple ways to keep the #mitochondria healthy, which is important for preventing chronic degenerative diseases and providing opportunities for #therapeutic intervention.

  22. How Mitochondrial Dynamism Orchestrates Mitophagy

    Authors Orian S. Shirihai, Moshi Song, Gerald W. Dorn II

    #explainpaper @explainpaper

    Understanding the Significance of Mitochondrial Fission and Fusion

    Mitochondrial dynamics refers to the movement of #mitochondria within a cell. This includes #fission, which is when mitochondria divide into two parts, #fusion, which is when two mitochondria join together, and #translocation, which is when mitochondria move from one part of the #cell to another. This movement is important for maintaining the stability of the mitochondrial #DNA, which is the genetic material found in mitochondria, and for controlling the cell's #respiration. It can also be involved in programmed #CellDeath. In the #heart, mitochondrial dynamics #protein s, such as #mitofusin s, optic #atrophy, and dynamin-related protein, are highly expressed and play an important role in maintaining the quality of the #mitochondria. Other roles for mitochondrial dynamics proteins in the #heart include helping to move #calcium into the mitochondria and regulating the structure of the mitochondria.

    #Mitochondria are organelles in cells that are responsible for producing #energy. They can change their structure by breaking apart (#fission) and reforming (#fusion). This process is complicated and energy intensive, so it is important to understand why it is necessary. One reason may be that when cells divide, the mitochondria need to be divided equally between the two daughter cells. This requires the #mitochondria to be broken apart and then reformed in each daughter #cell. This process of breaking apart and reforming is more efficient than growing and budding the mitochondria. To help explain this process, the authors use the analogy of an army. Each soldier in the army is like a protein in the mitochondria, and the different units of the army are like the different parts of the #mitochondria. To increase the size of the army, units are added, rather than individual soldiers. This is similar to how mitochondria are modified, by adding or subtracting intact functional units, rather than individual #protein s.

    Mitochondria are #organelle s in cells that can change their physical structure by undergoing fission. Fission can be symmetrical, which is when mitochondria replicate and expand the number of #mitochondria in the #cell, or asymmetrical, which is when damaged components of the mitochondria are removed. The major #protein that helps with mitochondrial fission is called Drp1. It is mostly found in the #cytosol, but it needs to be recruited to the outer mitochondrial #membrane to help with fission. Different factors can cause Drp1 to be recruited, such as phosphorylation by mitotic kinase cyclin B–cyclin-dependent-kinase (cdk) 1 complex during #cell division, or interacting with Bcl-2–associated protein x during #apoptosis. Inhibiting Drp1 can protect cells from some, but not all, forms of programmed cell death.

    Mitochondria, which are organelles in cells, can be partitioned in #mitosis. The most efficient way to do this is by dismantling and then reconstituting the cellular #mitochondria network through sequential #organelle fission, distribution, and refusion. To explain this concept, the text uses an analogy of how military units are constituted and managed within an army's hierarchical organization structure. In this analogy, each soldier represents an individual respiratory complex #protein, which are grouped together to form a squad (analogous to a respiratory complex). Squads are arranged into platoons, and approximately 6 platoons comprise a functional unit, the company (like 1 complete respiratory chain). The text suggests that it would be easier to add prefabricated supercomplexes to preexisting ones, as by fusing mitochondrial cristae, rather than trying to make a larger or different shaped mitochondrion through the wholesale incorporation of individual proteins. This is because making major structural modifications of respiratory supercomplexes on paracrystalline cristal membranes would first require destabilizing the #membrane, then incorporating additional individual #protein components, and finally reconstructing the original highly organized structure, which is complicated and potentially disruptive.

    #Mitochondria are small organelles in cells that can change their physical structure by undergoing fission. Fission can be symmetrical, which means the #mitochondria are split into two equal parts, or asymmetrical, which means the mitochondria are split into two unequal parts. Symmetrical fission is used to replicate and expand the number of mitochondria in the #cell, while asymmetrical fission is used to remove damaged mitochondria from the cell. The major #protein responsible for mitochondrial fission is called Drp1. Drp1 is mostly found in the cytosol, but it needs to be recruited to the outer mitochondrial #membrane to promote fission. Different factors can stimulate Drp1 to move to the outer mitochondrial #membrane, such as phosphorylation by mitotic kinase cyclin B–cyclin-dependent-kinase (cdk) 1 complex. In addition, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is often found at the sites of mitochondrial fission. If Drp1 is not present, the mitochondria can still fragment during #mitosis, suggesting that there are other mechanisms that can promote mitochondrial fission.

    The text is talking about the process of mitochondrial fission, which is a process that involves connecting and separating parts of a #mitochondria. The author uses the metaphor of making sausage links to explain the process, but then goes on to explain that mitochondria are actually more like a turducken, which is a dish made of a chicken stuffed inside a duck stuffed inside a turkey. This creates layers of poultry, which is similar to the double #membrane /double space structure of #mitochondria. The author then explains that the process of mitochondrial fusion involves connecting the two mitochondria layer by layer, using proteins called mitofusins. Mitofusins have a #GTPase domain, two hydrophobic heptad repeat coiled-coil domains, and a small hydrophobic transmembrane domain. These proteins insert into the outer #membrane of the #mitochondria, and can interact with other proteins in the cytosol. The process of mitochondrial fusion is GTP-independent and reversible, but #GTP #hydrolysis is essential for irreversible outer membrane fusion.

    #Mitofusins are proteins that are essential for the first two stages of mitochondrial fusion, which is the process of two mitochondria joining together. This process is important for the exchange of information between the #mitochondria and the #cell. If the mitofusins are deleted or suppressed, the mitochondria become abnormally small and are unable to undergo normal fusion. This can have serious implications for the health of the #cell.

    Membrane-by-membrane mitochondrial fusion is a process that helps to keep the structure of the inner and outer membranes of #mitochondria intact. This helps to preserve the process of oxidative phosphorylation, which is important for providing energy to cells. Without this process, molecules that can be toxic to cells can form and interrupt the electron transport chain. This process is also important for maintaining the normal shape of the crista, which is necessary for the proper assembly and functioning of electron transport chain supercomplexes. In addition, it has been shown that interrupting Mfn-mediated OMM fusion can cause a #cardiomyocyte ER stress response, while interrupting Opa1-mediated IMM fusion can compromise mitochondrial function.

    Mitochondrial fission and fusion are important processes in #biology, as evidenced by the fact that mutations in genes related to these processes can cause serious diseases in humans. Altering the balance between fission and fusion can have an effect on the shape of #mitochondria, with more fusion leading to longer, more interconnected mitochondria, and more fission leading to shorter, less interconnected mitochondria. It is generally thought that more interconnected #mitochondria are healthier, but this is not always the case. In some cases, mitochondrial #fragmentation can be beneficial, and it is important to understand the interplay between mitochondrial fragmentation and other processes, such as #mitophagy, in order to understand the effects of mitochondrial fission and fusion.

    Mitophagy is a process by which cells eat their own #mitochondria. Mitochondria are organelles that produce energy in the form of #ATP, which is used to power most biological processes. Over time, mitochondria can become damaged and produce toxic levels of reactive oxygen species ( #ROS ). To protect the #cell from this damage, it has developed a sophisticated system to identify and remove these dysfunctional #mitochondria. This process is called mitophagy. #Mitophagy is a combination of the words mitochondria and #autophagy, which means "self-eating". It is a way for cells to selectively target and remove damaged mitochondria, while still keeping healthy ones. This helps to maintain the balance between having enough energy-producing #mitochondria and getting rid of the ones that are no longer functioning properly.

    Pulse chase experiments are a type of scientific experiment used to study the behavior of molecules over time. In this particular experiment, researchers found that when #mitochondria (the energy-producing organelles in cells) are targeted for #mitophagy (a process of removing damaged mitochondria from the cell), they have a relatively depolarized #membrane potential before being removed. This means that the #mitochondria have a lower electrical charge than normal, and they are less likely to be involved in #fusion events (when two mitochondria join together). The time between the mitochondria becoming depolarized and being removed from the cell can range from less than an hour to about three hours, suggesting that there is a population of preautophagic #mitochondria (mitochondria that are about to be removed). This #preautophagic pool helps to explain the variation in mitochondrial #membrane potential in different cell types. The process that feeds mitochondria into the preautophagic pool is important for determining how quickly #mitochondria are removed from the #cell. Scientists have developed a technology to label individual mitochondria and track their #membrane potential, which has allowed them to identify the event at which depolarized #mitochondria are produced. This event is called asymmetrical fission, and it occurs when the daughter mitochondria produced by the fission event have different #membrane potentials - one daughter has a higher membrane potential than the mother mitochondrion, while the other daughter has a lower membrane potential. This process of asymmetrical fission helps to separate damaged components from healthy components before they are removed from the #cell.

    The concept of mitochondrial fission and fusion and how it affects mitochondrial quality. It suggests that when the fusion factors Mfn1 and Mfn2 are both absent, unusually small and degenerated #mitochondria accumulate in adult mouse hearts. This was associated with impaired #cardiomyocyte respiration, but not with measurable alterations in #oxygen consumption. It was later discovered that the isolation procedure used was not capturing the fragmented #mitochondria produced by interrupting mitochondrial fusion. This led to the discovery that Mfn2 is essential to #Parkin-mediated #mitophagy, which is a process that helps to maintain mitochondrial quality. Three recent papers have also implicated the mitochondrial fission protein Drp1 in cardiac #mitophagy, and it is suggested that if asymmetrical mitochondrial fission normally precedes mitophagy, then chronic suppression of fission by ablating Drp1 would have different consequences on #mitophagy depending on when it is assayed.

    Mfn2 and PINK1–Parkin Mitophagy Signaling is a mechanism for controlling the quality of #mitochondria in the body. #PINK1 and #Parkin are proteins that are linked to #Parkinson's disease, and mutations in their genes were the first to be identified as causing the disease. Scientists have studied how PINK1 interacts with Parkin, and how this interaction can lead to the destruction of damaged #mitochondria, which is called #mitophagy. #PINK1 is like an ignition switch that senses when mitochondrial damage has occurred, and then activates Parkin-mediated mitophagy. PINK1 is normally not present in healthy #mitochondria, but when mitochondrial damage occurs, PINK1 accumulates and triggers the destruction of the damaged #mitochondria.

    PINK1 is a protein that accumulates on damaged mitochondria and helps to promote mitophagy, which is the process of getting rid of damaged mitochondria. PINK1 does this by inducing the cytosolic protein Parkin to move to the mitochondria and ubiquitinate proteins on the outer membrane of the mitochondria. This helps to prevent the spread of damage from the damaged mitochondria to the healthy ones. PINK1 also inhibits the fusion of the damaged mitochondria. There are different theories about the biochemical events that cause Parkin to move to the mitochondria and stop the fusion. It is thought that PINK1 phosphorylates Parkin on certain sites, which helps Parkin bind to the mitochondria. It is also thought that PINK1 phosphorylates ubiquitin, which helps Parkin bind to the mitochondria and ubiquitinate proteins on the outer membrane. Finally, it is thought that PINK1 phosphorylates Mfn2, which helps Parkin bind to the mitochondria and ubiquitinate proteins on the outer membrane. All of these processes help to promote mitophagy and prevent the spread of damage from the damaged mitochondria to the healthy ones.

    #PINK1 is a protein that plays an important role in a process called #mitophagy, which is a form of quality control for mitochondria. Mutations in the #PINK1 #gene have been linked to hereditary #Parkinson's disease in humans, but when the PINK1 gene is deleted in mice, it does not cause the same #neurodegenerative pattern seen in humans. Even when the genes for PINK1, Parkin, and DJ-1 are all deleted in mice, it still does not cause the same loss of dopaminergic #neuron s seen in #Parkinson's disease patients. This suggests that there may be other pathways that can compensate for the loss of #PINK1 and #Parkin, such as increased transcription of other E3 #ubiquitin ligases in the hearts of Parkin-knockout mice.

    The text is discussing the idea of mitochondrial quality control pathways, which are processes that help keep mitochondria healthy. The text is suggesting that there may be alternate pathways that can be used to maintain mitochondrial health, rather than waiting until the mitochondria are completely depolarized before triggering their removal. It is comparing this idea to the idea of maintaining a car, where it is better to perform regular maintenance and repairs rather than waiting until the car is completely broken down before replacing it.

    Like a car, mitochondria can be maintained through preventative maintenance, such as replacing worn parts, and that more serious damage can be repaired by removing and replacing individual components. It also suggests that, like a car, #mitochondria can be repaired by removing and replacing damaged parts, but on a smaller scale. The different types of maintenance and repair may be part of a continuum, rather than distinct categories.

    #Mitophagy and mitochondrial dynamism are two processes that are closely connected. Mitophagy is the process of removing damaged #mitochondria from the #cell, while mitochondrial dynamism is the process of mitochondria fusing together and separating. The two processes work together to keep the cell healthy by eliminating damaged mitochondria and preventing healthy mitochondria from being contaminated by the damaged ones. The protein #Mfn2 plays a role in both processes, acting as a factor for mitochondrial fusion when it is not acted on by #PINK1 and as a receptor for #Parkin when it is. This suggests that the two processes are mutually exclusive, meaning that they cannot happen at the same time. This helps to protect healthy #mitochondria from being contaminated by the damaged ones. Finally, the involvement of PINK1 and Parkin in multiple mitochondrial quality control mechanisms shows that there are multiple ways to keep the #mitochondria healthy, which is important for preventing chronic degenerative diseases and providing opportunities for #therapeutic intervention.

  23. The findings of this study open up possibilities for further research on the role of ATP in apoptosis, as well as potential therapeutic targets for controlling cell death.

    #ATP #Cell #CellDeath #Apoptosis #Caspase-3 #Pannexin-1 #Metabolism #FRET #Biosensors