Interaction of Gas Messengers with Mitochondria in Health and Disease

Mitochondria in eukaryotic cells influence many essential intracellular processes such as energy supply, reactive oxygen species mediated signaling and oxidative damage, programmed cell death, turnover of Ca++, several metabolic pathways related to lipid and protein metabolism. The majority of these processes occur downstream of mitochondria and are fairly well understood. In contrast, it is less clear how mitochondrial functions are regulated from the upstream side and how upstream regulatory signaling are transformed by mitochondria into downstream physiological and pathological manifestations of health and diseases. Endogenous gaseous messengers, such as nitric monoxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfite, and more recently uncovered methane (NO, CO, H2S, CH4, respectively) are known to have a high affinity to different segments of mitochondria, efficiently modulating their functions. This suggests that endogenous gas messengers orchestrate a reach pallet of pathways mediated by mitochondria.

The present research topic aims at collecting scientific reports about novel aspects of interaction between gas messengers and mitochondria in terms of molecular mechanisms, the impact of combined effects of two or more gas messengers on mitochondrial structure and function, mitochondria mediated pathways translating upstream gas messenger signals into downstream signals affecting diverse cellular functions. We will also welcome communications suggesting novel therapeutic treatments targeting interaction between gas messengers and mitochondria, particularly those focused on critical care diseases. This topic will be of interest to a broad readership such as chemists, biochemists, cellular biologists and medical researchers and doctors.