Mitochondria News and Research

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Existing drug could prevent liver damage caused by ammonia build-up

High levels of ammonia kill liver cells by damaging the mitochondria that power the cells. But this can be prevented using an existing drug due to start clinical trials, finds a new study in mice led by researchers from UCL.

7 Mar 2025

Scientists uncover structure of key enzyme to block cancer cell energy supply

Cancer cells have an insatiable appetite for energy as they multiply more rapidly than normal cells. Greedy cancer cells hijack various cellular functions to find and exploit energy and other resources, including a group of enzymes that help normal cells maintain a balance of energy.

6 Mar 2025

Melatonin protects skeletal muscle from damage caused by "diabesity"

An international study led by the University of Granada (UGR) has revealed that melatonin, known for its ability to regulate the sleep/wake cycle, can restore the composition of muscle fibers and protect skeletal muscle from damage caused by obesity and type 2 diabetes, known as "diabesity".

5 Mar 2025

Targeting mitochondrial DNA integrity for cardiac protection after injury

Maintaining mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) integrity is crucial for cardiomyocyte function, and its disruption plays a significant role in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.

4 Mar 2025

TFE3 activation shows promise for counteracting Parkinson's disease pathology

This recent study highlights the neuroprotective potential of TFE3, a transcription factor that plays a pivotal role in counteracting key pathological mechanisms associated with Parkinson's disease (PD).

2 Mar 2025

New discovery sheds light on energy crisis in children with TANGO2 deficiency

Researchers studying a protein linked to a rare, severe disease have made a discovery that sheds light on how cells meet their energy needs during a severe metabolic crisis.

28 Feb 2025

Biomass smoke compounds linked to lung damage and respiratory diseases

Biomass burning-whether from wildfires, wood stoves or agricultural fires-sends massive amounts of tiny particles and chemicals into the air.

27 Feb 2025

LJI scientists discover a potential new target for treating Parkinson's disease

Scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) have found a potential new target for treating Parkinson's disease.

25 Feb 2025

CMV infection found to worsen necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants

Researchers say they found that infection with a common virus that can be transmitted from mother to fetus before birth significantly worsens an often-fatal complication of premature birth called necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in experiments with mice.

24 Feb 2025

Zika virus hijacks tunneling mechanism to infect placental cells

Infection with Zika virus in pregnancy can lead to neurological disorders, fetal abnormalities and fetal death. Until now, how the virus manages to cross the placenta, which nurtures the developing fetus and forms a strong barrier against microbes and chemicals that could harm the fetus, has not been clear.

22 Feb 2025

Characterizing the spectrum of mitochondrial DNA deletion disease syndromes

Researchers from the Mitochondrial Medicine Program at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have better characterized a spectrum of what were classically considered discrete mitochondrial DNA deletion disease syndromes.

21 Feb 2025

CBD boosts endurance in mice by reshaping gut bacteria and enhancing muscle performance

Study shows that cannabidiol (CBD) enhances endurance exercise in mice by reshaping gut microbiota, boosting mitochondrial function, and altering muscle fiber composition for improved performance.

20 Feb 2025

New drug mimics low-oxygen treatment for Leigh Syndrome

For the average person, living at high altitude-where oxygen is sparser than at sea level-can have health benefits ranging from lower rates of heart disease to increased endurance.

18 Feb 2025

Stanford researchers identify key variants linked to inherited cancer risk

Thousands of single changes in the nucleotides that make up the human genome have been associated with an increased risk of developing cancer.

17 Feb 2025

New discovery on mitochondrial protein could transform Charcot-Marie-Tooth treatment

Researchers from Cologne, Bochum, Padova and Angers have discovered a novel connection between mitochondrial function, protein quality control and cellular health, whose failure could be the leading cause in the currently incurable neurological disease Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT).

14 Feb 2025

Protein identified as key to preventing fat build-up and related diseases

Accumulation of fat molecules is detrimental to the cell. Researchers from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine), have made a breakthrough in understanding how our cells manage to stay healthy by recycling important fat molecules.

11 Feb 2025