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Mitochondrial Flashes: Elemental Signaling Events in Eukaryotic Cells

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Book cover Pharmacology of Mitochondria

Part of the book series: Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology ((HEP,volume 240))

Abstract

Mitochondrial flashes (mitoflashes) are recently discovered mitochondrial activity which reflects chemical and electrical excitation of the organelle. Emerging evidence indicates that mitoflashes represent highly regulated, elementary signaling events that play important roles in physiological and pathophysiological processes in eukaryotes. Furthermore, they are regulated by mitochondrial ROS, Ca2+, and protons, and are intertwined with mitochondrial metabolic processes. As such, targeting mitoflash activity may provide a novel means for the control of mitochondrial metabolism and signaling in health and disease. In this brief review, we summarize salient features and mechanisms of biogenesis of mitoflashes, and synthesize data on mitoflash biology in the context of metabolism, cell differentiation, stress response, disease, and ageing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China

    Gaomin Feng, Beibei Liu, Tingting Hou, Xianhua Wang & Heping Cheng

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  1. Gaomin Feng
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  2. Beibei Liu
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  3. Tingting Hou
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  4. Xianhua Wang
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  5. Heping Cheng
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Correspondence to Heping Cheng .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Harpreet Singh

  2. Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Shey-Shing Sheu

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Feng, G., Liu, B., Hou, T., Wang, X., Cheng, H. (2016). Mitochondrial Flashes: Elemental Signaling Events in Eukaryotic Cells. In: Singh, H., Sheu, SS. (eds) Pharmacology of Mitochondria. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, vol 240. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/164_2016_129

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