Tag

Mitochondria

All articles tagged with #mitochondria

science6 days ago•2 min saved

Leucine Protects Mitochondrial Proteins to Boost Cellular Energy

Researchers at the University of Cologne have discovered that the amino acid leucine does more than build muscle; it actively regulates cellular energy production. By inhibiting the degradation of specific proteins on the outer membrane of mitochondria, leucine allows these organelles to function more efficiently. This mechanism, mediated by the quality control protein SEL1L, enables cells to adapt energy output to nutrient availability, with potential implications for cancer and metabolic disorders.

via ScienceDaily|

#cellular-energy #leucine #mitochondria

health9 days ago•14 min saved

Transplanted Hearts Adopt the Biological Age of Their New Hosts

A preprint study from Harvard Medical School indicates that transplanted hearts biologically age or de-age to match their recipients, not their donors. This finding suggests that older donor hearts may be viable for younger patients, potentially expanding the organ pool.

via Gizmodo|

#aging-research #epigenetics #health

health-and-science9 days ago•87 min saved

Cardiolipin Decline Drives Muscle Fiber Shifts in Aging

A new study in Nature Aging reveals that the decline of the mitochondrial lipid cardiolipin is a primary driver of muscle fiber type changes during aging. By depleting this lipid in young mice, researchers reproduced age-related muscle shifts and found that restoring it reversed atrophy and improved survival. While this highlights internal cellular mechanisms, other recent research points to nerve-muscle communication failures as a separate, reversible cause of age-related weakness.

via Nature|

#aging #cardiolipin #health-and-science

science11 days ago•0 min saved

Mammalian cells found to produce elemental sulfur for antioxidant defense

Researchers have detected elemental sulfur in mammalian cells for the first time, revealing that human and mouse cells actively produce S8 rings to limit oxidative damage. This finding challenges previous assumptions that only bacteria, plants, and fungi utilize elemental sulfur, suggesting a new metabolic pathway in mammals.

via Chemistry World|

#antioxidants #biochemistry #cell-biology

science13 days ago•120 min saved

Nottingham Study Links Earth's Magnetic Field to Mitochondrial Aging in Fruit Flies

A new study from the University of Nottingham reveals that Earth's magnetic field influences cellular aging and energy metabolism. By shielding fruit flies from the geomagnetic field, researchers found that flies with a Parkinson's-linked gene defect lived 20% longer but moved worse, while healthy flies showed the opposite pattern. These findings suggest the magnetic field is a fundamental biological variable, with potential implications for treating neurodegenerative diseases and preparing astronauts for deep space missions.

via Space|

#aging-research #geomagnetism #mitochondria

science16 days ago•2 min saved

Removing Earth's Magnetic Field Extends Lifespan in Parkinson's Flies but Hurts Healthy Ones

A study in Aging found that blocking Earth's magnetic field extends the lifespan of fruit flies with a Parkinson's-linked gene defect by 20 percent but reduces their mobility. Conversely, healthy flies experienced shorter lifespans but improved mobility. Researchers at the University of Nottingham used quantum diamond sensors to observe changes in mitochondrial energy metabolism, suggesting the geomagnetic field significantly influences cellular physiology and aging.

via 404 Media|

#aging #fruit-flies #magnetic-fields

health17 days ago•4 min saved

Neuroscientist warns everyday LED lighting may trigger a public health crisis

A University College London neuroscientist likens energy-efficient LED lighting to asbestos in terms of potential health risk, arguing that blue-enriched light can damage mitochondria and disrupt metabolism, possibly raising diabetes risk. Supporting studies in mice show reduced mitochondrial activity and altered liver function, though EU regulators say there is no direct health effect in normal use; more research is urged, with practical mitigations like exposure to natural broad-spectrum light and balanced light spectra.

via New York Post|

#blue-light #circadian-rhythm #health

science21 days ago•7 min saved

Quantum Hint Inside Mitochondria Could Boost ATP, Early Preprint Says

A bioRxiv preprint reports a possible quantum state inside mitochondria that couples light and CH2 vibrations to produce a 71 THz signal and roughly a 10% ATP increase under weak mid-infrared light; the result is preliminary, based on cells and tissues, not peer‑reviewed, and requires replication to confirm relevance to biology.

via ScienceAlert|

#atp #biorxiv #infrared-spectroscopy

medicine-and-drugs1 month ago•111 min saved

Psilocybin May Shield Nerves From Chemotherapy, Mouse Study Suggests

A mouse study published in Science found that psilocybin, given before chemotherapy, can prevent chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy by preserving mitochondrial trafficking and ATP production in nerve endings. The protective effect relies on the serotonin receptor 5-HT2A, and a non-hallucinogenic 5-HT2A activator also provided protection. Human trials have not yet proven efficacy, though researchers plan to move toward clinical testing.

via Live Science|

#5-ht2a #chemotherapy #medicine-and-drugs

science1 month ago•79 min saved

One-amino-acid trimming stabilizes mitochondrial protein complexes

A study shows that the mitochondrial intermediate peptidase ICP55 removes a single amino acid to create a stabilizing N-terminus; loss of ICP55 in human cells destabilizes hundreds of mitochondrial proteins, shifting them toward smaller subcomplexes and broadly disrupting mitochondrial complexes. Using global N-terminomics and complexome profiling, the researchers mapped ICP55 substrates, identified new cleavage motifs, and demonstrated that restoring ICP55 rescues complex integrity, revealing N-terminal proteoform control as a crucial layer of mitochondrial proteostasis with implications for disease.

via Nature|

#complexome-profiling #icp55 #mitochondria

science1 month ago•6 min saved

Mitochondrial Epigenetics Quiet Chronic Inflammation in Aging Cells

Mayo Clinic researchers link aging “zombie” cells’ persistent inflammation to a two‑part mechanism: damaged mitochondria leak immune-activating DNA/RNA to trigger inflammatory signals, and increased mitochondrial metabolism raises acetyl‑CoA, enabling epigenetic changes that make inflammatory genes more accessible. Blocking the mitochondrial citrate transporter SLC25A1 cuts acetyl‑CoA supply and dampens SASP-driven inflammation even with ongoing immune signaling, offering a way to reduce aging‑related inflammation without destroying the cells.

via SciTechDaily|

#acetyl-coa #epigenetics #mitochondria

science1 month ago•5 min saved

OPA1 in appetite neurons linked to fat cravings in mice

Researchers in Japan found that removing the mitochondrial protein OPA1 specifically from MC4R-expressing neurons in the hypothalamus makes mice prefer fatty foods and gain weight faster, with stronger effects in females; pharmacological activation of MC4R reduced intake in males regardless of OPA1 status but was less effective in females lacking OPA1, suggesting mitochondrial function in appetite neurons influences fat intake and obesity risk, though results are limited to mice and may not translate to humans yet.

via ScienceAlert|

#hypothalamus #mc4r #mitochondria

medicine-and-drugs1 month ago•138 min saved

Metformin’s core mechanism revealed: gut mitochondria drive its glucose-lowering effect

A Nature Metabolism study shows metformin lowers blood sugar primarily by inhibiting mitochondrial complex I in intestinal cells, causing those cells to burn more glucose via glycolysis. Liver-level action is less likely since liver concentrations of metformin are low. In mice engineered with a backup intestinal enzyme, the drug’s glucose-lowering effect dropped about 80%, suggesting intestinal complex I inhibition as the main acute mechanism, though researchers caution about translating findings to humans and acknowledge additional targets may exist.

via Live Science|

#complex-i #diabetes #intestines

science1 month ago•6 min saved

Leg-Derived Mitochondria Injected Into Human Eyes Show Safety, Hint at Vision Therapy Potential

Scientists performed the first human ocular mitochondrial transplantation by injecting mitochondria isolated from a leg biopsy into both eyes of a 26-year-old woman with severe vision loss. The procedure appeared safe with no immune reaction, and post-treatment results included temporary improvements in pupil light responses and evidence of organized visual-cortex activity, though there was no restoration of visual acuity. The study is a single-patient, uncontrolled case, so causation cannot be established, but it suggests a potential for repeated mitochondrial dosing and warrants further, controlled trials to explore whether healthy mitochondria can energize damaged retinal cells.

via ScienceAlert|

#mitochondria #neuroscience #retina

science1 month ago•48 min saved

A Tiny Lipid Switch Could Revive Cellular Powerhouses and Slow Aging

A study led by researchers at the Leibniz Institute on Aging links age-related mitochondrial decline to dropping levels of the membrane lipid phosphatidylcholine. As phosphatidylcholine wanes, mitochondria lose flexibility and efficiency, contributing to aging. Across human cells and the worm C. elegans, the team found that supplying choline or phosphatidylcholine can partially restore youthful mitochondrial function, suggesting that targeting this lipid pathway might slow—or even reverse—aspects of aging.

via Yahoo|

#aging #choline #membrane-lipid