Mitochondrial degradation by autophagy (mitophagy) in hepatocytes

Mitochondria are the essential site of aerobic energy production in eukaryotic cells. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are an inevitable by-product of mitochondria metabolism and can cause mitochondrial DNA mutations and dysfunction. Mitochondrial damage can also be the consequence of disease processes. Therefore, maintaining a healthy population of mitochondria is essential to the well-being of cells. Autophagic delivery to lysosomes is the major degradative pathway in mitochondrial turnover. I use the term mitophagy to refer to mitochondrial degradation by autophagy. Although long assumed to be a random process, increasing evidence indicates that mitophagy is a selective process. This study provides a description of a description of the process of mitophagy, the possible role of the mitochondrial permeability transition in mitophagy and the importance of mitophagy in turnover of dysfunctional mitochondria