Understanding Miro GTPases: Implications in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders

The Miro GTPases represent an unusual subgroup of the Ras superfamily and have recently emerged as important mediators of mitochondrial dynamics and for maintaining neuronal health. It is now well-established that these enzymes act as essential components of a Ca 2+ -sensitive motor complex, facilit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecular neurobiology 2018-09, Vol.55 (9), p.7352-7365
Main Authors: Kay, Laura, Pienaar, Ilse S., Cooray, Ruwini, Black, Gary, Soundararajan, Meera
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alzheimer's disease
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Animals
Anterograde transport
Axonal transport
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Calcium
Cell Biology
Dendrites
Disease Models, Animal
Dopamine receptors
GTP Phosphohydrolases - chemistry
GTP Phosphohydrolases - metabolism
Hands
Homeostasis
Humans
Insects
Life sciences
Mammals
Medical treatment
Mental disorders
Microtubules
Mitochondria
Mitochondria - metabolism
Mitochondrial Dynamics
Molecular structure
Morphology
Neurobiology
Neurodegenerative diseases
Neurodegenerative Diseases - enzymology
Neurodegenerative Diseases - therapy
Neurology
Neurosciences
Parkinson's disease
Proteins
Retrograde transport
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Summary:The Miro GTPases represent an unusual subgroup of the Ras superfamily and have recently emerged as important mediators of mitochondrial dynamics and for maintaining neuronal health. It is now well-established that these enzymes act as essential components of a Ca 2+ -sensitive motor complex, facilitating the transport of mitochondria along microtubules in several cell types, including dopaminergic neurons. The Miros appear to be critical for both anterograde and retrograde mitochondrial transport in axons and dendrites, both of which are considered essential for neuronal health. Furthermore, the Miros may be significantly involved in the development of several serious pathological processes, including the development of neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. In this review, we discuss the molecular structure and known mitochondrial functions of the Miro GTPases in humans and other organisms, in the context of neurodegenerative disease. Finally, we consider the potential human Miros hold as novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of such disease.
ISSN:0893-7648
1559-1182
DOI:10.1007/s12035-018-0927-x