Mitochondrial Signaling In Health And Disease

Mitochondria have traditionally been associated with metabolic functions; however recent research has uncovered a central role for these organelles in cell signaling, cell survival, and cell death. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a factor in a myriad of pathophysiological conditions, including age-related neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. Mitochondrial Signaling in Health and Disease examines themes essential for the maintenance of the mitochondrial redox (reduction-oxidation) energy axis. With contributions from an impressive cadre of internationally recognized scientists, the book discusses coordinated mitochondrial functions that regulate cell function by discrete signaling pathways. Topics discussed include: Electron transport and energy production Mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics Mitochondrial signaling Apoptosis and autophagy Pharmacology signaling Epigenetic signaling: mitochondrial methylation and acetylation reactions An essential resource for life and health scientists as well as pharmaceutical industry professionals, this volume highlights the importance of mitochondrial signaling and its role in establishing a harmonized communication between several cellular compartments. The information in this volume is critical to those developing mitochondrion-targeted therapies aimed at assuaging mitochondrial dysfunction or the specific factors contributing to its dysfunction.

Mitochondria have traditionally been associated with metabolic functions; however recent research has uncovered a central role for these organelles in cell signaling, cell survival, and cell death. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a factor in a myriad of pathophysiological conditions, including age-related neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. Mitochondrial Signaling in Health and Disease examines themes essential for the maintenance of the mitochondrial redox (reduction-oxidation) energy axis. With contributions from an impressive cadre of internationally recognized scientists, the book discusses coordinated mitochondrial functions that regulate cell function by discrete signaling pathways. Topics discussed include: Electron transport and energy production Mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics Mitochondrial signaling Apoptosis and autophagy Pharmacology signaling Epigenetic signaling: mitochondrial methylation and acetylation reactions An essential resource for life and health scientists as well as pharmaceutical industry professionals, this volume highlights the importance of mitochondrial signaling and its role in establishing a harmonized communication between several cellular compartments. The information in this volume is critical to those developing mitochondrion-targeted therapies aimed at assuaging mitochondrial dysfunction or the specific factors contributing to its dysfunction.

Mitochondrial biology reinvented itself and became a new world that has attracted new scientists influencing every field of biomedical research. Mitochondrial research is growing and changing, as reflected by the exponential rise in the number of conferences covering mitochondrial biology and the role of mitochondria in diseases ranging from neurodegenerative diseases,metabolic diseases and genetic muscular dystrophies toimmunopathologies and cancer. As the awareness of the essential role of mitochondria in pathology rose, a demand for new approaches to measure mitochondrial function resulted in the robust development of new forms of microscopy and spectroscopy that opened windows into previously unknown aspects of mitochondrial biology. Two Conferences provided an outstanding representation of this state of affairs, the Gordon Research Conference Mitochondrial Dynamics and Signaling (Ventura, California March 17-22, 2019) and the FASEB Conference Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Dynamics in Health and Disease (Palm Springs, California May 19-24, 2019). These conferences well reflected the explosion of the field of mitochondrial communication within the cell, between cells and across organs, as well as the budding of a new field on the definition of individual mitochondria and the identification of subtypes with diverse structural features that may serve different specific functions. Through our participation in these meetings, we conceived the idea to cover some of these topics in the Research Topic “Mitochondria in Health and Disease” of Frontiers in Physiology - Mitochondrial Research Specialty Section. Fitting the tradition of Frontiers, our contributors have generated a platform incuding both solid data and new concepts, as radical and courageous as they can be. We are pleased with the outcome and we hope that our readers will share our enthusiasm.

It was once assumed that mitochondrial diseases were rare and that few people were affected. As knowledge has grown about these organelles and their function, it became clear that mitochondrial malfunction could be linked to several chronic diseases. Diabetes has been associated with DNA mutation and can cause mutation itself. This text discusses findings involving the effects of disease on mitochondrial number, mitogenesis, and the base sequence of mitochondrial DNA. Experts discuss their study of mitochondria and what happens when it malfunctions. This book also explores the idea that mutated mitochondrial DNA can result in disease, and vice versa.

Mitochondria are subcellular organelles evolved by the endosymbiosis of bacteria with eukaryotic cells. They are the main source of ATP in the cell and engaged in other aspects of cell metabolism and cell function, including the regulation of ion homeostasis, cell growth, redox status, and cell signaling. Due to their central role in cell life and death, mitochondria are also involved in the pathogenesis and progression of human diseases/conditions, including neurodegenerative and cardiovascular disorders, cancer, diabetes, inflammation, and aging. However, despite the increasing number of studies, precise mechanisms whereby mitochondria are involved in the regulation of basic physiological functions, as well as their role in the cell under pathophysiological conditions, remain unknown. A lack of in-depth knowledge of the regulatory mechanisms of mitochondrial metabolism and function, as well as interplay between the factors that transform the organelle from its role in pro-survival to pro-death, have hindered the development of new mitochondria-targeted pharmacological and conditional approaches for the treatment of human diseases. This book highlights the latest achievements in elucidating the role of mitochondria under physiological conditions, in various cell/animal models of human diseases, and in patients.

Methods in Toxicology, Volume 2: Mitochondrial Dysfunction provides a source of methods, techniques, and experimental approaches for studying the role of abnormal mitochondrial function in cell injury. The book discusses the methods for the preparation and basic functional assessment of mitochondria from liver, kidney, muscle, and brain; the methods for assessing mitochondrial dysfunction in vivo and in intact organs; and the structural aspects of mitochondrial dysfunction are addressed. The text also describes chemical detoxification and metabolism as well as specific metabolic reactions that are especially important targets or indicators of damage. The methods for measurement of alterations in fatty acid and phospholipid metabolism and for the analysis and manipulation of oxidative injury and antioxidant systems are also considered. The book further tackles additional methods on mitochondrial energetics and transport processes; approaches for assessing impaired function of mitochondria; and genetic and developmental aspects of mitochondrial disease and toxicology. The text also looks into mitochondrial DNA synthesis, covalent binding to mitochondrial DNA, DNA repair, and mitochondrial dysfunction in the context of developing individuals and cellular differentiation. Microbiologists, toxicologists, biochemists, and molecular pharmacologists will find the book invaluable.

Besides bringing together researchers and clinicians from various disciplines to share their scope of research on the seminal role of mitochondria in human disease, this original volume of the book has a broader appeal by exploring the health and disease of mitochondria, with specific emphasis on how mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to the development of various neurodegeneration, cancer, and metabolic disorders. The book also provides a foundational overview of the mitochondrial pathogenic or genetic variants and highlights various analytical tools used in the field of mitochondrial genetics; mitochondrial replacement therapy and strategies geared towards shifting heteroplasmy in individuals with mitochondrial disease; how state-of-the-art omics technologies (proteomics, functional genomics) have been employed to study mitochondrial biology in healthy and disease states; post-translational modifications in the regulation of mitochondrial proteins; and the role of mitochondria in host-pathogen interactions. Current approaches taken to study steady-state characteristics of mitochondrial structure and function in live mammalian cells in the contexts of normal and diseased states, and most recent research efforts to develop compounds with anti-cancer potential by targeting mitochondrial proteases or advances in therapeutic approaches towards mitochondrial disease were also explored. By covering this broad range of topics, our hope is to disseminate a wealth of knowledge on the critical role of mitochondria, and how to probe its function in health and in sickness.

Mitochondria are subcellular organelles evolved by the endosymbiosis of bacteria with eukaryotic cells. They are the main source of ATP in the cell and engaged in other aspects of cell metabolism and cell function, including the regulation of ion homeostasis, cell growth, redox status, and cell signaling. Due to their central role in cell life and death, mitochondria are also involved in the pathogenesis and progression of human diseases/conditions, including neurodegenerative and cardiovascular disorders, cancer, diabetes, inflammation, and aging. However, despite the increasing number of studies, precise mechanisms whereby mitochondria are involved in the regulation of basic physiological functions, as well as their role in the cell under pathophysiological conditions, remain unknown. A lack of in-depth knowledge of the regulatory mechanisms of mitochondrial metabolism and function, as well as interplay between the factors that transform the organelle from its role in pro-survival to pro-death, have hindered the development of new mitochondria-targeted pharmacological and conditional approaches for the treatment of human diseases. This book highlights the latest achievements in elucidating the role of mitochondria under physiological conditions, in various cell/animal models of human diseases, and in patients.