Back to results

Purdue University

Axonal transport and life cycle of mitochondria in Parkinson's disease model

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>In neurons, normal distribution and selective removal of mitochondria are essential for preserving compartmentalized cellular function. Parkin, an E3 ubiquitin ligase associated with familial Parkinson’s disease, has been implicated in mitochondrial dynamics and removal. However, it is not clear how Parkin plays a role in mitochondrial turnover in vivo, and whether the mature neurons possess a compartmentalized Parkin-dependent mitochondrial life cycle. Using the live <em>Drosophila</em> nervous system, here, I investigate the involvement of Parkin in mitochondrial dynamics; organelle distribution, morphology and removal. Parkin deficient animals displayed less number of axonal mitochondria without disturbing organelle motility behaviors, morphology and metabolic state. Instead, loss of Parkin produced tubular and reticular mitochondria specifically in motor neuronal cell body. In addition, unlike in immortalized cells <em>in vitro</em>, Parkin-dependent mitophagy was rarely found in our mature neurons. Thus, my results indicate that mitochondrial morphology is restrictively modulated in the cell body in Parkin-dependent manner, and this further proposes an idea that the organelle supply from the cell body is important for the mitochondrial quality control in mature neurons.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Level thesis:degree_level
Dissertation
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Biological Science
Year
2016

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Sung, Hyun
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Peter J. Hollenbeck
  • Henry C. Chang
  • Jean-Christophe Rochet
  • Daniel M. Suter

Subjects

dc:subject × 13

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:docs.lib.purdue.edu:open_access_dissertations-1871

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Purdue University
Base URL
docs.lib.purdue.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Sung, Hyun. Axonal transport and life cycle of mitochondria in Parkinson's disease model. Dissertation thesis, 2016. https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/open_access_dissertations/714