Mitochondrial Quality Control in Aging and Neurodegeneration

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Cellular Biochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2024 | Viewed by 8454

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo and Akershus University Hospital, 1478 Lørenskog, Norway
Interests: Alzheimer's disease; neurodegeneration; aging; mitophagy; autophagy; mitochondrial function; DNA repair; NAD(+) metabolism
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In this Special Issue of Biomolecules we want to focus on the importance and impact of mitochondrial (dys)function and (compromised) quality control mechanisms in both aging and neurodegeneration. Mitochondria are the energy factories of the cell and proper quality control can be detrimental for both cellular metabolism and function, as well as for tissues and even organisms. Mitochondrial quality control includes both mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial dynamics, and mitochondrial degradation and recycling, e.g., via mitophagy. Changes in the different steps of quality control measures have been linked to aging in different tissues and systems, and also to different neurodegenerative diseases—both their initiation and progression. Original manuscripts and reviews focusing on aspects of mitochondrial quality control linked to the aging process and neurodegenerative diseases are very welcome.

Dr. Sofie Lautrup
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • mitochondria
  • quality control
  • mitochondrial biogenesis
  • mitochondrial dynamics
  • fission
  • fusion
  • mitophagy
  • mitochondrial degradation
  • cellular metabolism
  • aging
  • neurodegeneration
  • neurodegenerative diseases
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Parkinson’s disease

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 5646 KiB  
Article
Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Protein Homeostasis in Aging: Insights from a Premature-Aging Mouse Model
by Jaime M. Ross, Lars Olson and Giuseppe Coppotelli
Biomolecules 2024, 14(2), 162; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14020162 - 30 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1252
Abstract
Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in aging and age-related disorders. Disturbed-protein homeostasis and clearance of damaged proteins have also been linked to aging, as well as to neurodegenerative diseases, cancers, and metabolic disorders. However, since mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, ubiquitin–proteasome, and autophagy-lysosome systems are [...] Read more.
Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in aging and age-related disorders. Disturbed-protein homeostasis and clearance of damaged proteins have also been linked to aging, as well as to neurodegenerative diseases, cancers, and metabolic disorders. However, since mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, ubiquitin–proteasome, and autophagy-lysosome systems are tightly interdependent, it is not understood whether the facets observed in aging are the causes or consequences of one or all of these failed processes. We therefore used prematurely aging mtDNA-mutator mice and normally aging wild-type littermates to elucidate whether mitochondrial dysfunction per se is sufficient to impair cellular protein homeostasis similarly to that which is observed in aging. We found that both mitochondrial dysfunction and normal aging affect the ubiquitin–proteasome system in a tissue-dependent manner, whereas only normal aging markedly impairs the autophagy-lysosome system. Thus, our data show that the proteostasis network control in the prematurely aging mtDNA-mutator mouse differs in certain aspects from that found in normal aging. Taken together, our findings suggest that severe mitochondrial dysfunction drives an aging phenotype associated with the impairment of certain components of the protein homeostasis machinery, while others, such as the autophagy-lysosome system, are not affected or only minimally affected. Taken together, this shows that aging is a multifactorial process resulting from alterations of several integrated biological processes; thus, manipulating one process at the time might not be sufficient to fully recapitulate all changes associated with normal aging. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mitochondrial Quality Control in Aging and Neurodegeneration)
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15 pages, 14141 KiB  
Article
Transcriptome Highlights Cannabinol Modulation of Mitophagy in a Parkinson’s Disease In Vitro Model
by Agnese Gugliandolo, Santino Blando, Stefano Salamone, Federica Pollastro, Emanuela Mazzon and Simone D’Angiolini
Biomolecules 2023, 13(8), 1163; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom13081163 - 25 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1170
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and the accumulation of α-synuclein aggregates, known as Lewy bodies. It is known that mitochondria dysfunctions, including impaired localization, transport and mitophagy, represent features of [...] Read more.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and the accumulation of α-synuclein aggregates, known as Lewy bodies. It is known that mitochondria dysfunctions, including impaired localization, transport and mitophagy, represent features of PD. Cannabinoids are arising as new therapeutic strategies against neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential protective effects of cannabinol (CBN) pre-treatment in an in vitro PD model, namely retinoic acid-differentiated SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells treated with 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+). With this aim, we performed a transcriptomic analysis through next-generation sequencing. We found that CBN counteracted the loss of cell viability caused by MPP+ treatment. Then, we focused on biological processes relative to mitochondria functions and found that CBN pre-treatment was able to attenuate the MPP+-induced changes in the expression of genes involved in mitochondria transport, localization and protein targeting. Notably, MPP+ treatment increased the expression of the genes involved in PINK1/Parkin mitophagy, while CBN pre-treatment reduced their expression. The results suggested that CBN can exert a protection against MPP+ induced mitochondria impairment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mitochondrial Quality Control in Aging and Neurodegeneration)
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Review

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34 pages, 2532 KiB  
Review
Mitochondrial Quality Control via Mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response (mtUPR) in Ageing and Neurodegenerative Diseases
by Paula Cilleros-Holgado, David Gómez-Fernández, Rocío Piñero-Pérez, Jose Manuel Romero-Domínguez, Diana Reche-López, Alejandra López-Cabrera, Mónica Álvarez-Córdoba, Manuel Munuera-Cabeza, Marta Talaverón-Rey, Alejandra Suárez-Carrillo, Ana Romero-González and Jose Antonio Sánchez-Alcázar
Biomolecules 2023, 13(12), 1789; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom13121789 - 13 Dec 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3255
Abstract
Mitochondria play a key role in cellular functions, including energy production and oxidative stress regulation. For this reason, maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis and proteostasis (homeostasis of the proteome) is essential for cellular health. Therefore, there are different mitochondrial quality control mechanisms, such as mitochondrial [...] Read more.
Mitochondria play a key role in cellular functions, including energy production and oxidative stress regulation. For this reason, maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis and proteostasis (homeostasis of the proteome) is essential for cellular health. Therefore, there are different mitochondrial quality control mechanisms, such as mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial dynamics, mitochondrial-derived vesicles (MDVs), mitophagy, or mitochondrial unfolded protein response (mtUPR). The last item is a stress response that occurs when stress is present within mitochondria and, especially, when the accumulation of unfolded and misfolded proteins in the mitochondrial matrix surpasses the folding capacity of the mitochondrion. In response to this, molecular chaperones and proteases as well as the mitochondrial antioxidant system are activated to restore mitochondrial proteostasis and cellular function. In disease contexts, mtUPR modulation holds therapeutic potential by mitigating mitochondrial dysfunction. In particular, in the case of neurodegenerative diseases, such as primary mitochondrial diseases, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA), there is a wealth of evidence demonstrating that the modulation of mtUPR helps to reduce neurodegeneration and its associated symptoms in various cellular and animal models. These findings underscore mtUPR’s role as a promising therapeutic target in combating these devastating disorders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mitochondrial Quality Control in Aging and Neurodegeneration)
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22 pages, 2209 KiB  
Review
Role of Mitochondria–ER Contact Sites in Mitophagy
by Alina Rühmkorf and Angelika Bettina Harbauer
Biomolecules 2023, 13(8), 1198; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom13081198 - 31 Jul 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2264
Abstract
Mitochondria are often referred to as the “powerhouse” of the cell. However, this organelle has many more functions than simply satisfying the cells’ metabolic needs. Mitochondria are involved in calcium homeostasis and lipid metabolism, and they also regulate apoptotic processes. Many of these [...] Read more.
Mitochondria are often referred to as the “powerhouse” of the cell. However, this organelle has many more functions than simply satisfying the cells’ metabolic needs. Mitochondria are involved in calcium homeostasis and lipid metabolism, and they also regulate apoptotic processes. Many of these functions require contact with the ER, which is mediated by several tether proteins located on the respective organellar surfaces, enabling the formation of mitochondria–ER contact sites (MERCS). Upon damage, mitochondria produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can harm the surrounding cell. To circumvent toxicity and to maintain a functional pool of healthy organelles, damaged and excess mitochondria can be targeted for degradation via mitophagy, a form of selective autophagy. Defects in mitochondria–ER tethers and the accumulation of damaged mitochondria are found in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which argues that the interplay between the two organelles is vital for neuronal health. This review provides an overview of the different mechanisms of mitochondrial quality control that are implicated with the different mitochondria–ER tether proteins, and also provides a novel perspective on how MERCS are involved in mediating mitophagy upon mitochondrial damage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mitochondrial Quality Control in Aging and Neurodegeneration)
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