Figure 1.

Leupeptin (Leu) rapidly inhibits hepatic mitophagic flux. Mitophagy proteins microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3B (LC3-II) (A) and p62 (B) were assessed via Western blotting from isolated hepatic mitochondria at 30-, 60-, 120-, and 240 min postinjection of either 250 µL saline or leupeptin (4 mg/mL). All proteins quantified were normalized to total protein staining using amido black. Data are presented as means ± SE (n = 3/group). C: schematic showing hypothesized effects of leupeptin on blocking lysosomal mitochondrial degradation in treadmill-run mice resulting in accumulation of mitochondria. Image created with BioRender and published with permission. L, significant main effect of leupeptin; T, significant main effect of time; *P < 0.05 within condition time effect (vs. 30 min); #P < 0.05 within condition time effect (vs. 60 min).