Molecular and Systems Approaches to Evaluate Mitochondrial Contribution to Disease

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Background

The investigation of mitochondrial biology in disease stems from a specific line of research, focusing on mitochondriopathies, arising from certain mutations in the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA). However, apart from this group of relatively rare primary mitochondrial diseases, in the past decades the role of mitochondria is being increasingly appreciated in diverse pathologies, including major diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative disease, diabetes and metabolic syndromes. Moreover, recent efforts in the field revealed that apart from the ‘classic’ bioenergetic machinery, mitochondria host a vast array of fundamental signaling and metabolic processes and the organelle shows high variation in structure, proteomic composition and function among different tissues and cell types. Thus, mitochondrial biology ascended from a niche interest and many researchers not primarily specialized in the field are today facing the challenge of appropriate evaluation of this complex organelle in their disease models.

The scope of this Research Topic is to give an up-to-date account on the most recent developments in mitochondrial medicine. In particular, we intend to provide an overview of the know-how on the comprehensive analysis of complex mitochondrial processes. Among others, the topics will cover approaches to generate and understand large scale datasets covering mtDNA variations, expression of nuclear and mitochondria encoded genes at the mRNA and protein levels, the mitochondrial metabolome, metabolic and bioenergetics fluxes.
Thus, we will welcome manuscripts describing quantitative and modeling approaches to understand dynamic mitochondrial processes as well as changes and variations in structure from atomic to organelle and cellular scale.

Moreover, we would like to shed light on emerging mechanisms in mitochondrial biology, e.g. intercellular transfer of the organelle. To provide a comprehensive picture on the role of mitochondria in disease, welcomed papers will also cover available animal models of primary and secondary mitochondrial diseases, techniques for manipulation of mtDNA, gene expression and protein processing, relevant for exploring novel, often unexpected mitochondrial pathomechanisms.

The article types will include Reviews, Mini Reviews, Methods and Original Research papers.

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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