Modeling mitochondrial function and its role in disease.

Many neurodegenerative diseases involve defects in mitochondrial function. These defects often arise from mutations carried in the genes that code mitochondrial proteins. Many of these defective proteins are involved in mitochondrial energy metabolism which is one of the primary roles of the mitochondria. However, others proteins have other roles that are related to signaling or mitochondrial structure. The interaction of the mitochondrial proteins is complex. Understanding these complex dynamics requires the use of computational models. Studies have started to exploit such models, but much further work is necessary to understand mitochondrial function and its role in neurodegenerative disease.