Mitochondria Hubs Of Cellular Signaling Energetics And Redox Balance

Poised at the convergence of most catabolic and anabolic pathways, mitochondria are the center of heterotrophic aerobic life, representing a hub in the overall metabolic network of cells. The energetic functions performed by mitochondria face the unavoidable redox hurdle of handling huge amounts of oxygen while keeping its own as well as the cellular redox environment under control. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced in the respiratory chain as a result of the energy supplying function of mitochondria. Originally considered an unavoidable by-product of oxidative phosphorylation, ROS have become crucial signaling molecules when their levels are kept within physiological range. This occurs when their production and scavenging are balanced within mitochondria and cells. Mitochondria-generated hydrogen peroxide can act as a signaling molecule within mitochondria or in the cytoplasm, affecting multiple networks that control, for example, cell cycle, stress response, cell migration and adhesion, energy metabolism, redox balance, cell contraction, and ion channels. However, under pathophysiological conditions, excessive ROS levels can happen due to either overproduction, overwhelming of antioxidant defenses, or both. Under oxidative stress, detrimental effects of ROS include oxidation of protein, lipids, and nucleic acids; mitochondrial depolarization and calcium overload; and cell-wide oscillations mediated by ROS-induced ROS release mechanisms. Mitochondrial dysfunction is central in the pathogenesis of numerous human maladies including cardiomyopathies and neurodegeneration. Diseases characterized by altered nutrient metabolism, such as diabetes and cancer, exhibit elevated ROS levels. These may contribute to pathogenesis by increasing DNA mutation, affecting regulatory signaling and transcription, and promoting inflammation. Under metabolic stress, several ionic channels present in the inner and outer mitochondrial membranes can have pro-life and -death effects. In the present E-book, based on the Frontiers Research Topic entitled: "Mitochondria: Hubs of cellular signaling, energetics and redox balance", we address one of the fundamental questions that the field of ROS biology faces today: how do mitochondria accomplish a reliable energy provision and at the same time keep ROS levels within physiological, non-harming, limits but crucial for cellular signaling function? Additionally, and within the perspective of mitochondria as signaling-energetic hubs in the extensive cellular metabolic network, we ask how can their collective dynamics scale from the subcellular to the cellular, tissue and organ levels to affect function in health and disease.

This text covers the basic principles of mitochondrial dynamics in cardiovascular medicine, with particular emphasis on their functional roles in physiology and disease. The book will include articles pertaining to mitochondrial fitness on a global basis, providing therefore an update on the progress made in several aspects in the field. Thus, it will assist scientists and clinicians alike in furthering basic and translational research. Organized in sections focusing on: basic science, mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiac disorders, in vascular disorders, in metabolic disorders, in kidney disease, therapeutic challenges and options, this essential volume fills imperative gaps in understanding and potentially treating several cardiovascular disorders.

Encyclopedia of Biomedical Gerontology, Three Volume Set presents a wide range of topics, ranging from what happens in the body during aging, the reasons and mechanisms relating to those age-related changes, and their clinical, psychological and social modulators and determinants. The book covers the biological and medical aspects of gerontology within the general framework of the biological basis of assessing age, biological mechanisms of aging, age-related changes in biological systems, human age-related diseases, the biomedical practicality and impracticality of interventions, and finally, the ethics of intervention. Provides a ‘one-stop’ resource to information written by world-leading scholars in the field of biomedical gerontology Fills a critical gap of information in a field that has seen significant progress in the last 10 years

This volume addresses the latest state-of-the-art systems biology-oriented approaches that--driven by big data and bioinformatics--are utilized by Computational Systems Biology, an interdisciplinary field that bridges experimental tools with computational tools to tackle complex questions at the frontiers of knowledge in medicine and biotechnology. The chapters in this book are organized into six parts: systems biology of the genome, epigenome, and redox proteome; metabolic networks; aging and longevity; systems biology of diseases; spatiotemporal patterns of rhythms, morphogenesis, and complex dynamics; and genome scale metabolic modeling in biotechnology. In every chapter, readers will find varied methodological approaches applied at different levels, from molecular, cellular, organ to organisms, genome to phenome, and health and disease. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics; criteria utilized for applying specific methodologies; lists of the necessary materials, reagents, software, databases, algorithms, mathematical models, and dedicated analytical procedures; step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory, bioinformatics, and computational protocols all delivered in didactic and clear style and abundantly illustrated with express case studies and tutorials; and tips on troubleshooting and advice for achieving reproducibility while avoiding mistakes and misinterpretations. The overarching goal driving this volume is to excite the expert and stimulate the newcomer to the field of Computational Systems Biology. Cutting-edge and authoritative, Computational Systems Biology in Medicine and Biotechnology: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource for pre- and post-graduate students in medicine and biotechnology, and in diverse areas ranging from microbiology to cellular and organismal biology, as well as computational and experimental biologists, and researchers interested in utilizing comprehensive systems biology oriented methods.

This detailed volume presents a wide range of techniques for plant mitochondrial analysis, ranging from tried-and-tested work horse techniques to the latest innovations. Within its pages, it explores subjects such as affinity-based isolation of mitochondria with magnetic beads, mitochondrial quality assessment protocols, measurement of uptake and release of specific metabolites, mitochondrial protein identification and visualization, as well as gene splicing and editing, and much more. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Plant Mitochondria: Methods and Protocols provides a highly useful set of methodologies for the plant mitochondrial community to help discover more interesting aspects of plant mitochondria in the years to come.

Nearly a century of scientific research has revealed that mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the most common and consistent phenotypes of cancer cells. A number of notable differences in the mitochondria of normal and cancer cells have been described. These include differences in mitochondrial metabolic activity, molecular composition of mitochondria and mtDNA sequence, as well as in alteration of nuclear genes encoding mitochondrial proteins. This book, Mitochondria and Cancer, edited by Keshav K. Singh and Leslie C. Costello, presents thorough analyses of mitochondrial dysfunction as one of the hallmarks of cancer, discusses the clinical implications of mitochondrial defects in cancer, and as unique cellular targets for novel and selective anti-cancer therapy.

As discussed in this book, a large body of evidence indicates that selenium is a cancer chemopreventive agent. Further evidence points to a role of this element in reducing viral expression, in preventing heart disease, and other cardiovascular and muscle disorders, and in delaying the progression of AIDS in HIV infected patients. Selenium may also have a role in mammalian development, in male fertility, in immune function and in slowing the aging process. The mechanism by which selenium exerts its beneficial effects on health may be through selenium-containing proteins. Selenium is incorporated into protein as the amino acid selenocysteine. Selenocysteine utilizes a specific tRNA, a specific elongation factor, a specific set of signals, and the codeword, UGA, for its cotranslational insertion into protein. It is indeed the 21st naturally occurring amino acid to be incorporated into protein and marks the first and only expansion of the genetic code since the code was deciphered in the mid 1960s.

Mitochondria and Longevity, Volume 340, the latest release in the International Review of Cell and Molecular Biology series reviews and details current advances in cell and molecular biology. The IRCMB series has a worldwide readership, maintaining a high standard by publishing invited articles on important and timely topics with this release focusing on topics such as Mitochondria metabolism and aging, Mitohormesis, Mitochondrial dynamics in the aging stem cell compartment, Mitochondrial proteostasis and aging, Mitochondrial DNA mutations and aging, Mitochondrial sirtuins, NAD+, NADH and aging, Mitophagy and aging, Mitochondria, calcium transport and aging. Publishes only invited review articles on selected topics in cell and molecular biology Authored by established and active cell and molecular biologists Drawn from international sources Offers a wide range of perspectives on specific subjects