Mitochondrial Dysfunctions: Genetic and Cellular Implications Revealed by Various Model Organisms

Mitochondria play a crucial role in maintaining the energy status and redox homeostasis of eukaryotic cells. They are responsible for the metabolic efficiency of cells, providing both ATP and intermediate metabolic products. They also regulate cell survival and death under stress conditions by controlling the cell response or activating the apoptosis process. This functional diversity of mitochondria indicates their great importance for cellular metabolism. Hence, dysfunctions of these structures are increasingly recognized as an element of the etiology of many human diseases and, therefore, an extremely promising therapeutic target. Mitochondrial dysfunctions can be caused by mutations in both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, as well as by stress factors or replication errors. Progress in knowledge about the biology of mitochondria, as well as the consequences for the efficiency of the entire organism resulting from the dysfunction of these structures, is achieved through the use of model organisms. They are an invaluable tool for analyzing complex cellular processes, leading to a better understanding of diseases caused by mitochondrial dysfunction. In this work, we review the most commonly used model organisms, discussing both their advantages and limitations in modeling fundamental mitochondrial processes or mitochondrial diseases.