DRP1 / DNM1L
| Item |
Description |
| Target name |
DRP1 / DNM1L |
| Full name |
Dynamin-related protein 1; Dynamin-1-like protein |
| Gene |
DNM1L |
| Primary function |
Core GTPase regulator of mitochondrial fission; also involved in peroxisomal division, mitosis-linked mitochondrial remodeling, mitophagy, apoptosis regulation, and mitochondrial quality control. |
| Target class |
Mitochondrial dynamics / mitochondrial fission / metabolic stress response target |
| Main disease logic |
Pathological DRP1 activation can drive excessive mitochondrial fragmentation, impaired oxidative phosphorylation, ROS production, calcium stress, mitophagy imbalance, inflammatory signaling, and cell survival adaptation. |
| Preferred modulation direction |
Inhibit excessive DRP1 activation or disrupt pathological DRP1-FIS1 signaling; avoid complete suppression of basal mitochondrial fission. |
| Key adaptors / related targets |
FIS1, MFF, MiD49, MiD51, OPA1, MFN1, MFN2, PINK1, PRKN/Parkin |
| Major caution |
DRP1 is required for normal mitochondrial maintenance, mitosis, neuronal function, and stress adaptation. Global inhibition could impair normal mitochondrial quality control. |
Cancer relevance
| Aspect |
Cancer relevance |
Likely Desired Direction |
| Proliferation |
Many cancer models show increased DRP1-mediated fission supporting mitochondrial redistribution, mitosis, and rapid growth. |
Down / inhibit excessive DRP1 |
| Metabolic adaptation |
DRP1 can support metabolic remodeling, mitochondrial fragmentation, altered oxidative phosphorylation, glycolytic adaptation, and survival under stress. |
Down in DRP1-dependent tumors |
| Migration / invasion / metastasis |
DRP1-driven mitochondrial fission can support motility and invasive behavior by changing mitochondrial distribution and energy availability. |
Down |
| Cancer stemness / tumor-initiating cells |
DRP1 and the DRP1-FIS1 axis are implicated in tumor-initiating cell expansion and aggressive phenotypes in some cancers. |
Down |
| Therapy resistance |
Excessive mitochondrial fission may contribute to resistance to chemotherapy, radiation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis depending on tumor type. |
Down or context-specific |
| Apoptosis caveat |
DRP1 can also participate in apoptosis-associated mitochondrial fragmentation. Therefore, indiscriminate DRP1 blockade could theoretically reduce apoptosis in some contexts. |
Context-dependent |
| Database cancer rating |
High mechanistic relevance; strongest as a mitochondrial-stress, invasion, tumor stemness, and therapy-resistance target. Translational status remains preclinical. |
Add as cancer target |
Alzheimer's disease relevance
| Aspect |
Alzheimer's disease relevance |
Likely Desired Direction |
| Aβ toxicity |
Aβ has been reported to interact with DRP1 and promote excessive mitochondrial fission, ROS generation, energetic failure, and synaptic dysfunction. |
Down / inhibit excessive DRP1 |
| Tau pathology |
Hyperphosphorylated tau is linked to abnormal mitochondrial dynamics and may worsen DRP1-associated mitochondrial fragmentation. |
Down |
| Synaptic function |
Excessive DRP1 activation can impair mitochondrial transport, ATP availability, and synaptic maintenance. |
Down |
| Oxidative stress |
DRP1-associated mitochondrial fragmentation can increase ROS and reduce mitochondrial membrane potential and respiratory efficiency. |
Down |
| Neuroinflammation |
Altered DRP1 activation has been linked to mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammatory signaling, including NLRP3-related pathways in AD models. |
Down / normalize |
| Therapeutic strategy |
Selective inhibition of pathological DRP1-FIS1 interaction, such as with P110-like strategies, is more attractive than complete DRP1 inhibition. |
Normalize fission |
| Database AD rating |
High mechanistic relevance; strong preclinical rationale for AD mitochondrial dysfunction, Aβ/tau toxicity, ROS, synaptic failure, and neuroinflammation. No established clinical DRP1-directed AD therapy. |
Add as AD target |
Modulators / tool compounds
| Compound / Strategy |
Mechanism |
Database Note |
| P110 peptide |
Selective inhibitor of pathological DRP1-FIS1 interaction; designed to reduce excessive fission while sparing basal fission. |
Useful reference tool compound; preclinical, not a general supplement or approved therapy. |
| Mdivi-1 |
Historically used as a DRP1/fission inhibitor, but has important off-target effects including mitochondrial complex I inhibition. |
Use cautiously in database notes; not a clean DRP1-specific probe. |
| Genetic DNM1L knockdown / inhibition |
Reduces DRP1 expression or activity and can suppress mitochondrial fission in experimental systems. |
Mechanistic research tool only. |
| Targeting DRP1-FIS1 axis |
Blocks a pathological receptor interaction involved in excessive fission. |
Probably the most attractive disease-modifying approach for AD and some cancers. |
Overall conclusion
In cancer, DRP1 is mainly relevant to proliferation, invasion, tumor-initiating cells, metabolic adaptation, and therapy resistance.
In Alzheimer's disease, DRP1 is mainly relevant to excessive mitochondrial fission, Aβ/tau toxicity, oxidative stress, synaptic dysfunction, energetic failure, and neuroinflammation.
The preferred therapeutic logic is normalization or selective inhibition of pathological DRP1 activation, especially DRP1-FIS1 signaling, rather than complete blockade of mitochondrial fission.
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