Mitophagy

Mitophagy clears damaged mitochondria so healthier mitochondria can produce ATP efficiently. Mitophagy differs from mitochondrial biogenesis, which creates new mitochondria. Mitophagy recycles faulty mitochondria inside cells. Mitophagy is defined as the removal and recycling of damaged mitochondria. Mitophagy selectively identifies, sequesters, and recycles damaged or dysfunctional mitochondria. The PINK1/Parkin pathway tags damaged mitochondria for degradation by autophagosomes and lysosomes. Urolithin A is described as activating mitophagy to make mitochondrial recycling more efficient. Urolithin A promotes mitophagy by activating signals in the PINK1/Parkin pathway. Urolithin A is proposed to remove damaged mitochondria and replace them with healthier mitochondrial networks. Clearing damaged mitochondria is linked to renewal of the mitochondrial network through mitochondrial biogenesis. Impaired mitophagy allows damaged mitochondria to accumulate and contribute to ROS and inflammatory signaling. Aging, inactivity, overtraining, environmental stress, and metabolic dysfunction are said to impair mitochondrial quality control.