title: Dynamics of Mitochondrial Transport in Axons.
abstract: The polarized structure and long neurites of neurons pose a unique challenge for proper mitochondrial distribution. It is widely accepted that mitochondria move from the cell body to axon ends and vice versa; however, we have found that mitochondria originating from the axon ends moving in the retrograde direction never reach to the cell body, and only a limited number of mitochondria moving in the anterograde direction from the cell body arrive at the axon ends of mouse hippocampal neurons. Furthermore, we have derived a mathematical formula using the Fokker-Planck equation to characterize features of mitochondrial transport, and the equation could determine altered mitochondrial transport in axons overexpressing parkin. Our analysis will provide new insights into the dynamics of mitochondrial transport in axons of normal and unhealthy neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology Ulsan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Niescier
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and TechnologyUlsan, South Korea; Center for Multidimensional Carbon Materials, Institute for Basic ScienceUlsan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Kyu
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology Ulsan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Se Hun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.affiliation: Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute and Department of Cell and Neurobiology, University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Karen T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology Ulsan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Tai
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Min
keywords: anterograde transport; axonal transport; mitochondrial transport; models; retrograde transport; theoretical