Role of dynamic related protein 1 in mitochondrial dynamic dysfunction in Alzheimer disease

Mitochondrial dynamic is very essential biological process in mammalian cells. In healthy cells, mitochondrial dynamic keeps a balance between fission and fusion process. Dynamic related protein 1 (Drp1) plays an essential role in mitochondrial division and is the key point of the distribution and function of mitochondria in axons, dendrites and synapses. Studies in patients with Alzheimer disease suggested that the dysfunction or abnormal expression of Drp1 makes the balance of mitochondrial dynamic fission and fusion in Alzheimer disease moved to the harmful side in hippocampus cells, leading to the imbalance of dynamic changes. Thus, Drp1 may be a valuable and novel target of mitochondrial dynamic changes for treatment of memory loss associated with Alzheimer disease.