Mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy play a key role in ensuring mitochondrial quality control. Impairment thereof was proposed to be causative to neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, and cancer. Accumulation of mitochondrial dysfunction was further linked to aging. Here we applied a probabilistic modeling approach integrating our current knowledge on mitochondrial biology allowing us to simul...

Center for Radiological Research, Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032 USA Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA *Corresponding author. Center for Radiological Research, Department of Radiation Oncology Columb...

Background and Objective: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder which is associated with extracellular accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques. AD is accompanied by mitochondrial dysfunction and energy metabolism reduction. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is an endogenous polypeptide which its beneficial effects have been demonstrated on mitochondrial function, energy m...

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is caused by degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons; environmental toxicants are hypothesized to play a role in PD etiology. Environmental toxicants can cause mitochondrial dysfunction through mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage and production of reactive oxygen species. Serial ultraviolet C (UVC) radiation causes an accumulation of mtDNA damage and 6-hydroxydopamine (6-...

Mitochondria play an important role in energy production for the cell. The proper function of a myocardial cell largely depends on the functional capacity of the mitochondria.  Therefore it is necessary to establish a novel and reliable method for a non-invasive assessment of mitochondrial function and metabolism in humans. Although originally designed for evaluating myocardial perfusion, 99mTc...

Mitochondria are often regarded as the cellular powerhouses through their ability to generate ATP, the universal fuel for metabolic processes. However, in recent years mitochondria have been recognised as critical regulators of cell death, inflammation, metabolism, and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Thus, mitochondrial dysfunction directly promotes cell death, inflammation, an...

BACKGROUND Oxidative stress associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors contributes to disease development. However, less is known whether specific subcellular components play a role in disease susceptibility. In this regard, it has been previously reported that vascular mitochondrial damage and dysfunction are associated with atherosclerosis. However, no studies have determined w...

BACKGROUND Extensive DNA damage leads to apoptosis. Histones play a central role in DNA damage sensing and may mediate signals of genotoxic damage to cytosolic effectors including mitochondria. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We have investigated the effects of histones on mitochondrial function and membrane integrity. We demonstrate that both linker histone H1 and core histones H2A, H2B, H3, ...

Testosterone deficiency, as a potential risk factor for aging and aging-related neurodegenerative disorders, might induce mitochondrial dysfunction and facilitate the declines of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system by exacerbating the mitochondrial defects and increasing the oxidative damage. Thus, how testosterone levels influence the mitochondrial function in the substantia nigra was invest...