Frontiers in Mitochondrial Aerobic Respiration

Dear Colleagues,

Most of the cell ATP is produced by the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos). Mitochondria have long been identified as responsible for most of cell energy production. Furthermore, these organelles play key roles in intercellular communication, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Mitochondria are also the main intracellular sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a by-product of oxidative phosphorylation under physiological conditions. It appears that ,apart from the absolute number of mitochondria present in a cell, their morphology is important: mitochondria are dynamic, being present not only as individual (fissioned) organelles, but also as an extensive network resulting from their fusion. Elongated mitochondria display a higher OxPhos. In fact, the highly variable mitochondrial morphology and number likely reflect the metabolic needs of the cell. The mitochondrial respiration rates can differ up to a 100-fold between tissues, depending on an efficient control of the machinery for both mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy. Recent evidence points to the existence of a connection of the mitochondrial reticulum to the Endoplasmic reticulum. Mitochondria are also implicated in cancer cells metabolic reprogramming. Cancer cells can rewire their metabolism, and, in addition to the Warburg effect (aerobic glycolysis) and glutaminolysis, fatty acid oxidation is a newly recognised hallmark of metastasizing cancer cells. Moreover, in the past years an ectopic OxPhos activity, has been described in membranes other than mitochondrial. The electron transport chain, and F1Fo‐ATP synthase are active in the rod outer segment disks, myelin sheath, and plasma membranes of hepatocytes, cancer and endothelial cells, as well as exosomes and microvesicles. The complex of data allow to explore other exciting aspects of the mitochondrial functioning, taking hints at a potentially discovery that can bring science exploration towards new ideas.

Prof. Dr. Isabella Panfoli
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cells is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• ATP
• cancer cells
• endoplasmic reticulum
• F₁F_o-ATP synthase
• metabolic reprogramming
• mitochondria
• mitofusins
• mitophagy
• Oxidative Phosphorylation
• reactive oxygen species

• Recent Advances in Metabolism and Oxidative Stress in Human Diseases in Cells (10 articles)