Northern Mitochondria

The mechanisms involved in dopaminergic degeneration in Parkinson´s disease (PD) are not clearly understood. Identification of mutations in various genes has suggested that the pathogenesis of PD involves common mechanisms, such as endosomal protein sorting and recycling, synaptic transmission, mitochondrial maintenance and lysosome-mediated autophagy. Mitochondria are cell organelles that convert energy stored in organic molecules to ATP that can be used in a variety of cellular processes as an energy source. Mitochondrial Complex I activity has been found to be decreased in patients with PD and, interestingly, a toxin inducing parkinsonism in humans is a Complex I inhibitor. Identification of a clinically distinct form of PD with mitochondrial impairment would enable more precise definition of PD subtypes, targeted genetic testing, and provide new biomarkers associated with mitochondrial PD.