TY  - JOUR
AU  - Tong, Benjamin Chun-Kit
AU  - Gubinelli, Francesco
AU  - Burbulla, Lena F
AU  - Harbauer, Angelika B
TI  - Mitochondrial specialization and signaling shape neuronal function.
JO  - Trends in neurosciences
VL  - 49
IS  - 2
SN  - 0378-5912
CY  - Amsterdam [u.a.]
PB  - Elsevier Science
M1  - DZNE-2026-00186
SP  - 141 - 154
PY  - 2026
AB  - Neurons are specialized cells designed to process information and transmit it, often across long distances. In many neurons, the axonal volume far exceeds the somato-dendritic volume, creating a need for long-range transport and local polarization mechanisms. In addition, action potential firing and restoration of ionic gradients, as well as dynamic changes in synaptic plasticity, further increase the energetic demands of neurons. In this review, we highlight the roles mitochondria play in vertebrate neuronal biology and how mitochondrial functionality is tuned to support the unique demands of neurons. We cover the influence of mitochondrial positioning, ATP generation and Ca2+ buffering on neuronal function, and explore the role of mitochondria in neurotransmitter metabolism and local protein translation.
KW  - Mitochondria: physiology
KW  - Mitochondria: metabolism
KW  - Animals
KW  - Neurons: physiology
KW  - Neurons: metabolism
KW  - Humans
KW  - Signal Transduction: physiology
KW  - Neuronal Plasticity: physiology
KW  - Calcium: metabolism
KW  - Ca(2+) signaling (Other)
KW  - local translation (Other)
KW  - neuronal cell biology (Other)
KW  - neurotransmitter metabolism (Other)
KW  - respiration (Other)
KW  - transport (Other)
KW  - Calcium (NLM Chemicals)
LB  - PUB:(DE-HGF)16
C6  - pmid:41638946
DO  - DOI:10.1016/j.tins.2025.12.006
UR  - https://pub.dzne.de/record/285207
ER  -