Guest guest Posted October 13, 2004 Report Share Posted October 13, 2004 Hi Rich, you may find this interesting, today's news: Mitochondria findings may help beat wide range of disease New findings explaining the complicated process by which the " energy substations " of human cells split apart and recombine may lay the groundwork for new treatment approaches to a wide range of diseases, including some cancers and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Researchers from The s Hopkins University's Integrated Imaging Center; the University of California, ; and the California Institute of Technology collaborated on two new studies analyzing the mechanisms and proteins that underlie the fission-fusion cycle of the cellular powerplants, called mitochondria. Their findings were published in two recent issues of the journal Science. " To understand the role that mitochondria play in both normal and aberrant cell biology, it is essential to first understand the fusion- fission process that occurs continuously in normal, healthy cells, " said J. McCaffery, a research scientist in the s Hopkins Department of Biology, director of the Integrated Imaging Center, and an author on both studies. Mitochondria constantly split and recombine and as cells divide, they pass along to each " daughter " cell the full complement of mitochondria necessary for healthy cell physiology. Recent research suggests that when this process goes awry, healthy cells die, resulting in diseases ranging from optic atrophy (the most common inherited form of blindness), to Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (a disease in which nerves in the hands, feet and lower legs die off), to Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases (which arise from neurodegenerative cell death), and even to some types of cancer. Until now, though, understanding of those diseases was greatly limited by a lack of knowledge about the mitochondrial fusion portion of the cycle. " Fusion of single membranes is a well-delineated process, involving well-known, well-studied proteins, " McCaffery said. " However, the same cannot be said for mitochondrial fusion, in which the key sequence of events and facilitating proteins remain largely unknown. " The mitochondrial fusion process is challenging to understand because mitochondria are structurally very complex, double-membrane bound organelles. In order for separate mitochondria to fuse, two distinct, compositionally very different membranes must join. Understanding how mitochondria accomplish this while maintaining the integrity of their compartments and the appropriate segregation of membranes and proteins is a fundamental question that the researchers sought to answer. McCaffery's team helped tackle this question by studying isolated mitochondria that had been removed from cells, observing them in test tubes using both light and electron microscopy. This cell-free approach allowed researchers a first-ever glimpse into the sequence of events underlying outer and inner membrane fusion. What they discovered -- that mitochondria removed from their host- cell environment were nonetheless able to fuse -- surprised them because it suggested that mitochondria contain within themselves all the proteins necessary for fusion. This stands in stark contrast to the process of single-membrane fusion, which requires many additional cellular proteins to carry out this important function. " We observed two distinct stages, with the first involving outer membrane fusion yielding an intermediate structure of two conjoined mitochondria, followed by the subsequent fusion of the inner membranes giving rise to a single mitochondrion, " McCaffery said. " Understanding the discrete molecular events that underlie dynamic mitochondrial behavior has the potential to reveal keen insights into the basic and essential cell-mitochondria relationship, leading to increased understanding of the aging process; and potential treatments and perhaps cures of those age-related scourges of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 14, 2004 Report Share Posted October 14, 2004 Hi Rich, Many thanks for pinpointing a large part of the missing jigsaw in these illnesses. We are getting much closer to finding the nature of the beast since this last conference. > Hi, all. > > I want to thank all of you who have sent messages of appreciation > and encouragement to me. I'm glad to hear that my efforts on the > glutathione paper and on reviewing the AACFS conference are of > help. > > I intend to continue writing reviews as I can find the time to do > so, but I hope everyone will be patient, since I will also be doing > some family-related things today and in the coming days. I think I > understand how curious many of you are about the talks given at the > conference, and I will get to them as I am able. > > Hang in there. > > Rich > > > > > > > This list is intended for patients to share personal experiences with each other, not to give medical advice. If you are interested in any treatment discussed here, please consult your doctor. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 4, 2004 Report Share Posted November 4, 2004 Hi, Jill. Yes, I think this is fascinating stuff! I knew that mitochondria divided to form new mitochondria, but I didn't know that they fuse back together. I wonder what the purpose of that is. (I know that most biologists object to looking for " purpose " in living systems, but I'm an engineer at heart, and I believe in design!) Rich > > Hi Rich, you may find this interesting, today's news: > > Mitochondria findings may help beat wide range of disease > New findings explaining the complicated process by which the " energy > substations " of human cells split apart and recombine may lay the > groundwork for new treatment approaches to a wide range of diseases, > including some cancers and neurodegenerative diseases such as > Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. > Researchers from The s Hopkins University's Integrated Imaging > Center; the University of California, ; and the California > Institute of Technology collaborated on two new studies analyzing the > mechanisms and proteins that underlie the fission-fusion cycle of the > cellular powerplants, called mitochondria. Their findings were > published in two recent issues of the journal Science. > > " To understand the role that mitochondria play in both normal and > aberrant cell biology, it is essential to first understand the fusion- > fission process that occurs continuously in normal, healthy cells, " > said J. McCaffery, a research scientist in the s Hopkins > Department of Biology, director of the Integrated Imaging Center, and > an author on both studies. > > Mitochondria constantly split and recombine and as cells divide, they > pass along to each " daughter " cell the full complement of > mitochondria necessary for healthy cell physiology. Recent research > suggests that when this process goes awry, healthy cells die, > resulting in diseases ranging from optic atrophy (the most common > inherited form of blindness), to Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (a > disease in which nerves in the hands, feet and lower legs die off), > to Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases (which arise from > neurodegenerative cell death), and even to some types of cancer. > > Until now, though, understanding of those diseases was greatly > limited by a lack of knowledge about the mitochondrial fusion portion > of the cycle. > > " Fusion of single membranes is a well-delineated process, involving > well-known, well-studied proteins, " McCaffery said. " However, the > same cannot be said for mitochondrial fusion, in which the key > sequence of events and facilitating proteins remain largely unknown. " > > The mitochondrial fusion process is challenging to understand because > mitochondria are structurally very complex, double-membrane bound > organelles. In order for separate mitochondria to fuse, two distinct, > compositionally very different membranes must join. Understanding how > mitochondria accomplish this while maintaining the integrity of their > compartments and the appropriate segregation of membranes and > proteins is a fundamental question that the researchers sought to > answer. > > McCaffery's team helped tackle this question by studying isolated > mitochondria that had been removed from cells, observing them in test > tubes using both light and electron microscopy. This cell-free > approach allowed researchers a first-ever glimpse into the sequence > of events underlying outer and inner membrane fusion. > > What they discovered -- that mitochondria removed from their host- > cell environment were nonetheless able to fuse -- surprised them > because it suggested that mitochondria contain within themselves all > the proteins necessary for fusion. This stands in stark contrast to > the process of single-membrane fusion, which requires many additional > cellular proteins to carry out this important function. > > " We observed two distinct stages, with the first involving outer > membrane fusion yielding an intermediate structure of two conjoined > mitochondria, followed by the subsequent fusion of the inner > membranes giving rise to a single mitochondrion, " McCaffery > said. " Understanding the discrete molecular events that underlie > dynamic mitochondrial behavior has the potential to reveal keen > insights into the basic and essential cell-mitochondria relationship, > leading to increased understanding of the aging process; and > potential treatments and perhaps cures of those age-related scourges > of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 5, 2004 Report Share Posted November 5, 2004 Rich, Wellness anecdotally has good response from their lipoceutical glutathione, and sent me a bottle. I'll let you know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.