Research progress in the role of mitochondrial quality control during the development of perinatal heart

As one of the highest energy consumer organ in mammals, the heart has to complete the conversion of energy metabolism from anaerobic glycolysis to fatty acid oxidation during the perinatal development, during which the mitochondria of cardiomyocytes develop rapidly to meet the need of cardiac energy metabolism. Recent studies have found that mitochondrial quality control plays an important role in the perinatal heart development and maturation. Mitochondrial quality control includes mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial fusion/fission, and mitophagy, which ensures normal cell function and metabolism by maintaining the integrity of mitochondrial structure and function. In this paper, we review the changes of mitochondrial quality control system during mammalian heart development and its role in heart development.