Mitochondrial dynamics in cancer and neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases

Abstract

Mitochondria are key organelles in the cell, hosting essential functions, from biosynthetic and metabolic pathways, to oxidative phosphorylation and ATP production, from calcium buffering to red-ox homeostasis and apoptotic signalling pathways. Mitochondria are also dynamic organelles, continuously fusing and dividing, and their localization, size and trafficking are finely regulated. Moreover, in recent decades, alterations in mitochondrial function and dynamics have been implicated in an increasing number of diseases. In this review, we focus on the relationship clarified hitherto between mitochondrial dynamics and cancer, neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases. Copyright © 2012 Mauro Corrado et al.