Figure 2.

Protective roles of mitophagy.

Reactive oxygen species such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) acts as a signaling mechanism to induce autophagy or mitophagy which has a role in bioenergetic pathway and protective roles in cell survival. On the other hand, an increase in mitochondrial fusion protects mitochondria through mitophagy. The PTEN-induced putative kinase protein 1 (PINK1) of mitochondria is destabilized by presenilin rhomboid like (PARL) and cytosolic E3 ubiquitin ligase PARKIN (PARKIN) ubiquitinates mitofusion (Mfn), voltage dependent protein channel 1 (VDAC1) etc. that results in elevated mitophagy. PINK1 with different proteins such as mitochondrial RhoGTase (MIRO), tumor necrosis factor receptor associated protein 1 (TRAP1), PARKIN combined with Mfn and voltage dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1) has different inhibitory roles such as mitochondrial trafficking and mitochondrial remodeling. Clearance of damaged mitochondria by mitophagy enhances mitochondrial biogenesis and increases the rate of cell survival.