Mitophagy Mechanisms in Disease: PINK1/Parkin and BNIP3/NIX Pathways
Mitochondrial autophagy, also known as mitophagy, is a selective form of autophagy that specifically removes damaged or superfluous mitochondria from cells. It plays a central role in maintaining mitochondrial quality control, reducing the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and regulating cellular energy metabolism and homeostasis. In recent years, a growing body of research has demonstrated that dysregulation of mitophagy is closely associated with a wide range of diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic dysfunction. Therefore, systematically elucidating its molecular mechanisms and validating its functions using precise models has become a major focus of current research. Mechanisms of Mitophagy At its core, mitophagy involves the sequestration of specific mitochondria by autophagosomes, followed by their delivery to lysosomes for degradation. This process typically includes several key steps: ● Damage recogniti...