Abstract
Mitochondria are central regulators of neuronal homeostasis and survival, and increasingly viewed as a drug target in several acute and chronic neurological disorders, e.g. stroke, Alzheimers, Parkinsons, and Huntingtons diseases. Frequent working hypotheses aim to establish whether and how chemical or genetic lesions affect mitochondrial function in neurons, and whether this can be rescued by pharmacological treatments. However, the generic designation ‘mitochondrial function’ actually encompasses a wide spectrum of individual activities, too numerous to be fully quantified by any single available technique. This review aims to provide a broad perspective on the roles played by neuronal mitochondria, and addresses multiple techniques that can be used to derive instructive functional indicators. These include measurements of mitochondrial respiration, ATP production, membrane potential, calcium handling, biogenesis, dynamic movement as well as fusion and fission. Technique descriptions are preceded by a summary of mitochondrial physiology and pharmacological tools required for functional modulation and parameter determination. Hopefully, these will assist researchers interested in testing mitochondria as a drug target in neurological disease models.
Keywords: Mitochondria, neurons, respiration, membrane potential, biogenesis, mitochondrial dynamics, live imaging, calcium, ionophores, oxygen consumption
Current Drug Targets
Title: Techniques to Investigate Neuronal Mitochondrial Function and its Pharmacological Modulation
Volume: 12 Issue: 6
Author(s): Jorge M.A. Oliveira
Affiliation:
Keywords: Mitochondria, neurons, respiration, membrane potential, biogenesis, mitochondrial dynamics, live imaging, calcium, ionophores, oxygen consumption
Abstract: Mitochondria are central regulators of neuronal homeostasis and survival, and increasingly viewed as a drug target in several acute and chronic neurological disorders, e.g. stroke, Alzheimers, Parkinsons, and Huntingtons diseases. Frequent working hypotheses aim to establish whether and how chemical or genetic lesions affect mitochondrial function in neurons, and whether this can be rescued by pharmacological treatments. However, the generic designation ‘mitochondrial function’ actually encompasses a wide spectrum of individual activities, too numerous to be fully quantified by any single available technique. This review aims to provide a broad perspective on the roles played by neuronal mitochondria, and addresses multiple techniques that can be used to derive instructive functional indicators. These include measurements of mitochondrial respiration, ATP production, membrane potential, calcium handling, biogenesis, dynamic movement as well as fusion and fission. Technique descriptions are preceded by a summary of mitochondrial physiology and pharmacological tools required for functional modulation and parameter determination. Hopefully, these will assist researchers interested in testing mitochondria as a drug target in neurological disease models.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
M.A. Oliveira Jorge, Techniques to Investigate Neuronal Mitochondrial Function and its Pharmacological Modulation, Current Drug Targets 2011; 12 (6) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138945011795528895
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138945011795528895 |
Print ISSN 1389-4501 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-5592 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
New drug therapy for eye diseases
Eyesight is one of the most critical senses, accounting for over 80% of our perceptions. Our quality of life might be significantly affected by eye disease, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, dry eye, etc. Although the development of microinvasive ocular surgery reduces surgical complications and improves overall outcomes, medication therapy is ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
The Role of 3D Pharmacophore Mapping Based Virtual Screening for Identification of Novel Anticancer Agents: An Overview
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Characterization of Molecular and Functional Alterations of Tumor Endothelial Cells to Design Anti-Angiogenic Strategies
Current Vascular Pharmacology Gene Therapy and Targeted Toxins for Glioma
Current Gene Therapy Molecular Targeting Agents in Renal Cell Carcinoma: Present Strategies and Future Perspectives
Current Pharmaceutical Design Novel Anticancer Targets and Drug Discovery in Post Genomic Age
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Anti-Cancer Agents Na+-H+ Exchanger, pH Regulation and Cancer
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery Editorial [Hot Topic: ADAMs: Targets for Drug Discovery (Executive Editor: Marcia L. Moss)]
Current Pharmaceutical Design RECKing MMP: Relevance of Reversion-inducing Cysteine-rich Protein with Kazal Motifs as a Prognostic Marker and Therapeutic Target for Cancer (A Review)
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 4-Aminocyclopentane-1,3-diols as Platforms for Diversity: Synthesis of Anandamide Analogs
Medicinal Chemistry 1,2,3-Triazine Scaffold as a Potent Biologically Active Moiety: A Mini Review
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry ErbB Targeted Drugs and Angiogenesis
Current Vascular Pharmacology Recent Patents on Imaging Nanoprobes for Brain Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy
Recent Patents on Biotechnology The Role of DNA Methylation in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Cancer
Current Clinical Pharmacology Neuroprotection & Mechanism of Ethanol in Stroke and Traumatic Brain Injury Therapy: New Prospects for an Ancient Drug
Current Drug Targets Proteomic Analysis of Mitochondrial Proteins on the Mechanism of Apoptotic Under Amorphophallus konjac Tuber (KONJAC) Extracts in Gas tric Cancer Cell
Current Proteomics Potential Role of PKC Inhibitors in the Treatment of Hematological Malignancies
Current Pharmaceutical Design Nutlins and Ionizing Radiation in Cancer Therapy
Current Pharmaceutical Design Biology and Clinical Relevance of Mannose-Binding Lectin
Drug Design Reviews - Online (Discontinued) Manipulation and Engineering of Metabolic and Biosynthetic Pathway of Plant Polyphenols
Current Pharmaceutical Design Valproic Acid As Anti-Cancer Drug
Current Pharmaceutical Design