Unlocking the Power of Mitochondria for Cellular Energy
Pioneering research into cellular energetics and mitochondrial function to revolutionize our understanding of health and aging.
Mitochondria - Beyond the power house to the processor and signalling organelles of the cell
The analogy of mitochondria as powerhouses has expired. Mitochondria are living, dynamic, maternally inherited, energy transforming, biosynthetic, and signaling organelles that actively transduce biological information. We argue that mitochondria are the professor of the cell.
"Mitochondria are so small that one billion of them would fit comfortably in a grain of sand. The evolution of mitochondria fitted life with a turbo charged engine, revved up and ready for use at any time".
"Mitochondria are so small that one billion of them would fit comfortably in a grain of sand. The evolution of mitochondria fitted life with a turbo charged engine, revved up and ready for use at any time".
Mitochondria: Center of All Hallmarks of Ageing & Epigenetics
"Perhaps no structure is so intimately and simultaneously connected to both the energy of youth and the decline of the old"
Molecular alterations
Our cells consist of DNA, RNA, proteins, fats, and other small molecules. Some of these molecules are long-lived and become damaged over time, impeding their function; others are over-produced as we age, building up and forming aggregates as the ability of our cells to recycle these molecules declines.
Short telomeres
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DNA damage
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Disrupted proteostasis
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Loss of epigenetic information
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Cellular dysfunction
Our organs and tissues consist of trillions of cells, each of which has a life of its own. Cells must remain healthy and functional to contribute to the overarching function of a tissue. However, as we age, whole networks of cellular processes can stop functioning, leading to a decline in organ function and health.
Loss of tissue stem cells
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Overactive cell growth signals
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Buildup of damaged cells
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Mitochondrial damage
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Tissue degeneration
The ultimate job of our cells and molecules is to uphold the function and integrity of our tissues, allowing for a balanced healthy state called homeostasis. These categories of age-related changes can negatively impact entire tissues from achieving this balance.
Buildup of extracellular aggregates
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Non-regenerating adult tissues
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Stiffening of extracellular matrix
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Chronic inflammation
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Changes in endocrine signaling
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"The mitochondria actively transport coenzyme Q to the cell surface to protect cells from cell death. It is as if the mitochondria deliver band-aids to the surface to protect the cell, This again shows that mitochondria are not only important as an energy supplier for our cells, but also play crucial regulatory roles."
Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing