AUTHOR=Niescier Robert F. , Kwak Sang Kyu , Joo Se Hun , Chang Karen T. , Min Kyung-Tai 

TITLE=Dynamics of Mitochondrial Transport in Axons

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2016

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fncel.2016.00123

DOI=10.3389/fncel.2016.00123

ISSN=1662-5102

ABSTRACT=<p>The polarized structure and long neurites of neurons pose a unique challenge for proper mitochondrial distribution. It is widely accepted that mitochondria move from the cell body to axon ends and vice versa; however, we have found that mitochondria originating from the axon ends moving in the retrograde direction never reach to the cell body, and only a limited number of mitochondria moving in the anterograde direction from the cell body arrive at the axon ends of mouse hippocampal neurons. Furthermore, we have derived a mathematical formula using the Fokker-Planck equation to characterize features of mitochondrial transport, and the equation could determine altered mitochondrial transport in axons overexpressing parkin. Our analysis will provide new insights into the dynamics of mitochondrial transport in axons of normal and unhealthy neurons.</p>