Cardiolipin, Non-Bilayer Structures and Mitochondrial Bioenergetics

This book is an attempt to conceptualize a contemporary understanding on the roles that cardiolipin, a mitochondrial specific conical phospholipid, and non-bilayer structures, predominantly found in the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM), play in mitochondrial bioenergetics. This review outlines the link between changes in mitochondrial cardiolipin concentration and changes in mitochondrial bioenergetics, including changes in the IMM curvature and surface area, cristae density and architecture, efficiency of electron transport chain (ETC), interaction of ETC proteins, oligomerization of respiratory complexes, and mitochondrial ATP production. A relationship between cardiolipin decline in IMM and mitochondrial dysfunction leading to various diseases including cardiovascular diseases is thoroughly presented. Particular attention is paid to the targeting of cardiolipin by Szeto-Schiller tetrapeptides which leads to rejuvenation of important mitochondrial activities in dysfunctional and aging mitochondria. A role of cardiolipin in triggering non-bilayer structures and functional roles of non-bilayer structures in energy-converting membranes are reviewed.