Editorial: Mitochondria at the nexus of metabolism, aging, and disease

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Editorial on the Research Topic Mitochondria at the nexus of metabolism, aging, and disease Mitochondria, the intracellular powerhouses responsible for converting nutrients into energy (in the form of ATP or heat), are highly dynamic, double-membraned organelles.They play a crucial role in a multitude of cellular functions, supporting energy metabolism and maintaining homeostasis.Recent exciting discoveries emphasize the importance of this everchanging and functionally versatile organelle, particularly in terminally differentiated cell types heavily reliant on aerobic metabolism.Given the central role in metabolic and physiological homeostasis, dysregulation of mitochondria has been implicated not only in rare inherited diseases but also extended to common neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders, as well as cancer and age-related pathologies.Indeed, mitochondrial dysregulation is a hallmark of aging, perhaps in part explaining its role in such a wide range of pathologies.These findings underscore the pivotal role of mitochondria as a regulatory hub for homeostasis, making them an attractive and promising therapeutic target across a diverse spectrum of disease conditions.The Research Topic, titled "Mitochondria at the Nexus of Metabolism, Aging, and Disease" in Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, comprise a series of four articles unveiling recent breakthroughs in the cell biology of mitochondria, with relevance across health, disease, and therapeutic discovery.These articles delve into the intricate regulation of mitochondria by microenvironmental cues and shed light on challenges and unresolved questions addressing the biological functions of mitochondria in the context of health and disease.The maintenance of intracellular calcium levels by mitochondria emerges as a key player in cellular bioenergetics and redox homeostasis.Over the past decade, research efforts have led to the identification of molecular components of the primary ion channel, the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU), facilitating the permeation of Ca 2+ into energized mitochondria to support bioenergetics.These findings have unveiled novel perspectives on the role of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter in age-related diseases, particularly in neurodegenerative and cardiovascular conditions.In their review, Walters and Usachev delved into the molecular components and mechanisms of mitochondrial calcium cycling in neuronal cells, focusing on neuronal mitochondrial calcium homeostasis.The review explored the disruptions in this signaling mechanism and their contribution to various disease states, providing detailed insights

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