Autophagy and the Effects of Mutation and Oxidative Stress to Degradation

Abstract

Mitochondria are unique organelles capable of providing energy to cells.  Some mitochondria become dysfunctional due to mutational changes that can occur due to chemical interaction or stress.  When they become dysfunctional autophagy occurs degrading the mitochondria or the components causing it to not function properly.  Two examples are approached in their affect on autophagy.  First protein mitofusin 2 is observed in control environments as well as where it is removed to see the effects it has on mitochondrial autophagy.  Oxidative stress is then induced to observe its effects on mitochondria and to compare the results with that of the mitofusin 2 knockout protein.