title: Mitochondrial biogenesis and clearance: a balancing act.
abstract: Mitochondria are semi-autonomous organelles of prokaryotic origin that are postulated to have been acquired by eukaryotic cells through an early endosymbiotic event. Except for their main role in energy production, they are also implicated in fundamental cellular processes, including ion homeostasis, lipid metabolism, and initiation of apoptotic cell death. Perturbed mitochondrial function has been correlated with severe human pathologies such as type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, proper mitochondrial physiology is a prerequisite for health and survival. Cells have developed sophisticated and elaborate mechanisms to adapt to stress conditions and alterations in metabolic demands, by regulating mitochondrial number and function. Hence, the generation of new and the removal of damaged or unwanted mitochondria are highly regulated processes that need to be accurately coordinated for the maintenance of mitochondrial and cellular homeostasis. Here, we survey recent research findings that advance our understanding and highlight the importance of the underlying molecular mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece.|Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ploumi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece.|Department of Biology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioanna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Daskalaki
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece.|Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Nektarios
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tavernarakis
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D060565:Argonaute Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D063306:Mitophagy; D051265:NF-E2-Related Factor 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001678:Organelle Biogenesis
chemical_list: C466422:AGO2 protein, human; D060565:Argonaute Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D051265:NF-E2-Related Factor 1; C088357:NFE2L1 protein, human; D007501:Iron
keywords: Parkin; autophagy; mitochondrial biogenesis; mitophagy; nuclear respiratory factors