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Mitochondria at the Synapse

2006; SAGE Publishing; Volume: 12; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1177/1073858406287661

1089-4098

Cindy V. Ly, Patrik Verstreken,

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research

Synapses are packed with mitochondria, complex organelles with roles in energy metabolism, cell signaling, and calcium homeostasis. However, the precise mechanisms by which mitochondria influence neurotrans mission remain undefined. In this review, the authors discuss pharmacological and genetic analyses of synaptic mitochondrial function, focusing on their role in Ca2+ buffering and ATP production. Additionally, they will summarize recent data that implicate synaptic mitochondria in the regulation of neurotransmitter release during intense neuronal activity and link these findings to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases that feature disrupted synaptic mitochondria, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and hereditary spastic paraplegia.