Fig. 3.

Mitophagy and mitochondrial quality control. a Normal mitophagy begins with the initiation and elongation of a double-membraned autophagic vesicle. The vesicle then sequesters and engulfs mitochondria for degradation. Proper regulation of mitophagy leads to mitochondrial quality control and cellular homeostasis. b Increased mitophagy may greatly reduce the pool of functional mitochondria. With too few mitochondria, the cell loses its ability to produce sufficient energy and eventually dies. c A reduction in mitophagy causes accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria. The dysfunctional mitochondria generate excessive ROS and release pro-death proteins, triggering rapid cell death modification of Parkin and inhibition of mitophagy in the myocardium.