Recent Advances in Chemical Biology of Mitochondria Targeting

Haiwei Wang, Bin Fang, Bo Peng, Limin Wang, Yufei Xue, Hua Bai, Shenci Lu, Nicolas H. Voelcker, Lin Li, Li Fu, Wei Huang

Research output: Contribution to journalReview ArticleResearchpeer-review

57 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Mitochondria are vital subcellular organelles that generate most cellular chemical energy, regulate cell metabolism and maintain cell function. Mitochondrial dysfunction is directly linked to numerous diseases including neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes, thyroid squamous disease, cancer and septicemia. Thus, the design of specific mitochondria-targeting molecules and the realization of real-time acquisition of mitochondrial activity are powerful tools in the study and treatment of mitochondria dysfunction in related diseases. Recent advances in mitochondria-targeting agents have led to several important mitochondria chemical probes that offer the opportunity for selective targeting molecules, novel biological applications and therapeutic strategies. This review details the structural and physiological functional characteristics of mitochondria, and comprehensively summarizes and classifies mitochondria-targeting agents. In addition, their pros and cons and their related chemical biological applications are discussed. Finally, the potential biomedical applications of these agents are briefly prospected.

Original languageEnglish
Article number683220
Number of pages17
JournalFrontiers in Chemistry
Volume9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 3 May 2021

Keywords

  • chemical biology
  • chemical probe
  • mitochondrial
  • mitochondrial dysfunction
  • mitochondrial-targeting molecules
  • nanomedicine

Cite this