mitochondria Archives

A new generation of induced pluripotent stem cells for regenerative medicine

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Dr Schrepfer and Dr Deuse conducting their stem cell research

Embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells are unlimited sources for the generation of cell derivatives for the regeneration of failing organs. However, such cell transplants are subject to immune rejection by the recipient’s immune system. Drs Sonja Schrepfer and Tobias Deuse from the University of California, San Francisco, have developed a new generation of immune-edited induced pluripotent stem […]

Uncovering critical cell death mechanisms for novel cardioprotective therapies

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Mitochondria are required to produce the vast amount of energy that is required for the cell to beat.

Cell death is part of a natural process by which old cells are replaced by new, but it can also result from disease or injury. There are still many aspects of this process which are not fully understood. The laboratory of Dr Jason Karch, Baylor College of Medicine, aims to increase comprehension of the mechanisms behind cell death. If these […]

More than a just a simple powerhouse: Structure and function of mitochondria

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Mitochondria are well-known as the “powerhouse” of the cell – but these organelles have many other vital functions. Mitochondria are also heterogeneous, differing in structure and function. Dr Kasturi Mitra of the University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, USA, leads a research team focused on understanding the relationship between structure and function of mitochondria, in both health and disease. Dr Mitra’s […]

Identifying the mitochondrial DNA mutations that cause cancer

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Mutations that affect the mitochondrial DNA may play a key role in cancers. However, the exact mutations that are involved in cancer are still unknown. Dr Fatimata Mbaye and collaborators, from the University of Dakar in Senegal examined the sequences of two regions of the mitochondrial genome to identify and compare the mutations occurring in different cancers. Understanding the relationship […]

Mitonucleons: A new chapter in the story of mitochondria?

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The mitonucleon consists of multiple mitochondria.

Mitonucleons are a newly recognised type of mitochondrial superstructure. Consisting of multiple mitochondria enveloping chromatin, mitonucleons appear to be responsible for the development of unusual structures called spheroids. Dr Honoree Fleming of Castleton State College, Vermont, USA, has identified mitonucleons in human endometrial cells in vitro. Using microscopy, Dr Fleming has also observed mysterious structures called tubules, which appear to […]