Advances in Mitochondrial Dynamics and Neurodegeneration

Dear Colleagues,

Mitochondrial dynamics including fission, fusion and movement are fundamental processes that control mitochondrial function and homeostasis. Fission enables the segregation of mitochondria content and directs dysfunctional mitochondria to go through mitophagy for their degradation, while mitochondrial fusion allows the sharing of mitochondrial membrane and matrix contents. Moreover, the motility of mitochondria occurring through specific transport machinery ensures the recruitment of mitochondria at sites of high energy demand, such as the axonal and dendritic processes of neurons or at subcellular sites for their mitophagic degradation.

Destabilization of the equilibrium of mitochondrial dynamics is linked with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases as well as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Moreover, mutations in the genes encoding mitochondrial fusion and fission proteins have been associated with an increasing number of genetic neurodegenerative disorders, such as Charcot–Marie–Tooth type 2A (a peripheral neuropathy) and dominant optic atrophy (an inherited optic neuropathy).

This Special Issue will be a forum for studies describing the structural and functional features of mitochondrial dynamics in neurodegenerative diseases. The Issue will include studies highlighting the impact of mitochondrial segregation, distribution, and degradation by mitophagy on normal brain cell function and the contribution of the disturbance of these processes in the development of neurodegenerative diseases. The Issue will consider studies describing technical advances to study mitochondrial dynamics and novel approaches to manipulate mitochondrial fusion, fission and movement processes

Dr. Mounia Chami
Guest Editor

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