Neuronal Regulation of Mitochondria-Lysosome Contact Sites

Basal neuronal homeostasis relies heavily on precisely regulated mitochondrial and lysosomal function and dynamics. How these two organelles interact in neurons independently of lysosomal degradation of mitochondria is still not well understood, but is critical, as multiple neurodegenerative diseases are functionally and genetically linked to both mitochondrial and/or lysosomal dysfunction1,2. These include Parkinson’s disease, the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, which affects 10 million patients worldwide and has no cure3,4, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT), the most common inherited peripheral neuropathy. Our recent identification of a novel relationship between mitochondria and lysosomes at inter-organelle contact sites5 highlights a new fundamental pathway mediating neuronal organelle communication and may provide significant insights into both basic neuroscience and the underlying biology involved in aging and multiple neurodegenerative diseases.