Neuron Cell Degeneration Results from Perturbed Mitochondria or <i>Vice Versa</i>?

Abstract

Mitochondrial disease has important implications for numerous functions that affect different cells lines and tissues. The mitochondrion is an organelle that draws much attention from researchers, but their study is hampered by changing in number, size, shape, and location among other things. To date, it is not understood if mitochondrial alterations could be considered to be downstream effects or are the root causes of diseases classified as neurodegenerative. It is an unresolved enigma if mitochondrion form, size, location, and number become crucial to the correct functioning of distinct cells lines and tissues, besides the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated during the metabolism of glucose. The unexpected role of melanin to transform radiative energy directly into chemical energy by dissociation of the water molecule marks a milestone in the study of mitochondrial diseases.