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Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
A condition that has to be met for the body to be able to keep warm, move and even survive is that the mitochondria - the cells' power stations - release the right amounts of energy. Scientists at Karolinska Institutet have now identified the first known factor that acts as a brake on cellular energy production.
Mitochondria release energy through a process known as cellular respiration - a chemical process inside each mitochondrion that results in the production of the cell's energy currency, the molecule ATP.
As important parts of the respiratory chain are encoded by mitochrondrial DNA, mtDNA, the cell can adapt its energy production to varying needs by increasing or reducing the expression of mtDNA. However, very little is known about how this process is regulated.
Two research teams at Karolinska Institutet, led by Claes Gustafsson and Nils-Göran Larsson respectively, have now made an important breakthrough by discovering an entirely new mitochondrial factor, MTERF3. This new factor inhibits the expression of mtDNA and can thus slow down the cell's energy production.
The discovery, which is published in the journal Cell, may in future lead to completely new ways of treating various diseases. Impaired mitochondrial function gives rise to a cellular energy crisis and probably plays an important role in a number of common diseases such as diabetes, heart failure and Parkinson's disease, as well as in normal ageing.
Publication:
MTERF3 is a negative regulator of mammalian mtDNA transcription
Chan Bae Park, Jorge Asin-Cayuela, Yonhong Shi, Mina Pellegrini, Martina Gaspari, Rolf Wibom, Kjell Hultenby, Hediye Erdjment-Bromage, Paul Tempst, Maria Falkenberg, Claes M Gustafsson, Nils-Göran Larsson.
Cell, 27 July 2007
For further information, contact:
Professor Nils-Göran Larsson
Department of Laboratory Medicine
Mobile: +46 (0)70-209 7155
E-mail: Nils-Goran.Larsson@ki.se
Professor Claes Gustafsson
Department of Laboratory Medicine
Tel: +46 (0)34 69 61 80
E-mail: Claes.Gustafsson@ki.se
Press Officer Sabina Bossi
Tel: +46 (0)8-524 860 66
Mobile: +46 (0)70-614 60 66
E-mail: sabina.bossi@ki.se
Karolinska Institutet is one of the leading medical universities in Europe. Through research, education and information, Karolinska Institutet contributes to improving human health. Each year, the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet awards the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. For more information, visit ki.se
Criteria of this press release:
Medicine, Nutrition / healthcare / nursing
transregional, national
Research results
English
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