Xinyu Zhao, PhD – Slide of the Week
Title: Mitochondrial dynamics in neurodevelopment and neurodevelopmental disorders
Citation: Sirois CL, Lee J, Chambers AL, Zhao X. Mitochondrial dynamics in neurodevelopment and neurodevelopmental disorders. Nat Review Neuroscience 2026 May;27(5):307-326. doi: 10.1038/s41583-026-01031-7. Epub 2026 Mar 4. Review. PubMed PMID: 41781679.
Abstract: Mitochondrial deficits have been found in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, how mitochondria are regulated during brain development and how their dysregulation contributes to NDDs remains unclear. Mitochondria are continuously generated and degraded, dynamically remodeled through fusion and fission, and actively transported to specific cellular compartments. Altered mitochondrial dynamics have been linked to several human diseases and there is rising interest in their roles in neurodevelopment. However, most studies of mitochondrial contributions to NDDs have focused on the metabolic consequences of their dysfunction. This Review will focus on the mitochondrion itself, with particular emphasis on mitochondrial dynamics. We summarize recent advances in the mechanisms that regulate mitochondrial dynamics during brain development and discuss how genetic and epigenetic alterations affecting mitochondrial dynamics contribute to NDDs. Finally, we consider mitochondrial dynamics as potential therapeutic targets for treatment of NDDs.
Investigator: Xinyu Zhao, PhD
About the Lab: The Zhao Lab is located at the Waisman Center of University of Wisconsin–Madison, our laboratory is part of the Department of Neuroscience and Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center. We strive to adapt, develop, and integrate state-of-art approaches to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying neurogenesis and neuronal development.