Understanding Cardiolipin’s Function in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Author(s): David Ferguson

Cardiolipin (CL), also known as diphosphatidyglycerol, is localized and synthesized exclusively in the mitochondria. This glycerophospholipid was first characterized by Mary Pangborn and McFarlane in 1941. Presently, CL is considered a potential therapeutic target for several neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). Recent developments in the field of lipidomics indicate that the ratio of monolysocardiolipin-to-native CL is a valuable biomarker for diagnosing NDDs such as Barth Syndrome (BTHS). Studies have reported that protein–lipid interactions are associated with the function and organization of the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system. CL constitutes 15% of the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) lipids. It is localized, synthesized, and deacylated exclusively in the mitochondria. Neuronal and mitochondrial dysfunctions have been attributed to abnormalities in the concentration and changes in the intracellular localization of CL. In this thesis, the role of lipidomics in understanding the function of CL in NDDs is reviewed