Skip to main content

Mitochondrial Quality Control

Meaning

Mitochondrial quality control (MQC) is a crucial cellular process encompassing a network of mechanisms designed to maintain a healthy, functional population of mitochondria within a cell. This process includes biogenesis, the creation of new mitochondria; fusion and fission, the dynamic shaping of the mitochondrial network; and mitophagy, the selective degradation and recycling of damaged or dysfunctional mitochondria. Maintaining robust MQC is paramount for energy production, preventing the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, and supporting the high energetic demands of endocrine tissues. Impaired MQC is a hallmark of cellular aging and is implicated in numerous chronic diseases.