Absence of Mitochondrial Proteins May Prevent Age-Related Diseases, Increase Lifespan

Daily Tech ^ | May 12, 2011 | Tiffany Kaiser

[decimon]

Researchers hope to control a group of mitochondrial proteins that attack and damage other functional cell parts, which leads to age-related diseases

Thomas Nyström, study leader and a researcher in the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Gothenburg, and a team of researchers, have discovered that a group of mitochondrial proteins may be responsible for age-related diseases.

Scientists have theorized that the mitochondria, which are the power stations of cells, are responsible for human aging. This theory comes from the fact that mitochondria not only produce the body's energy, but also create harmful byproducts. These byproducts are reactive oxyradicals, and they attack several other parts of the cell. When a cell is attacked, it could become permanently damaged, which forces it to discontinue the operation of important functions. In the theory's conclusion, the lack of certain functional cells over time causes the organism to age.

Now, Nyström and his colleagues have found that these mitochondrial proteins, called MTC proteins, may play a crucial role in age regulation in humans. The proteins are traditionally apart of mitochondrial protein synthesis, but have other roles that impact genome stability.

[1010RD]

Imagine the personal hell of knowing what you know today at say 8. Would you really change anything? Think on the risk of actually making things worse. It’s hard to take the guess work out of life.

Did I just come up with a movie idea of an alternate Ground Hog Day? It’ll be stolen in minutes and you’re my only witness. Can I count on your testimony?

[SunkenCiv]

I like “Groundhog Day”. Also “Chinatown”.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

"Cue the “Never Say Never Again” music."

Ironically, sung by the ageless and timeless Lani Hall.

[TheOldLady]

Herb Alpert and Lani Hall, both loved, both timeless.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

Thank you for the lovely picture of Herb & Lani. They’re touring together— if you have a chance to catch their gig, by all means do so!

They’re about the nicest folks in entertainment, too.

[TheOldLady]

Indeed they are, so beautiful in every way.

[colorado tanker]

If the movies had been shot and released in chronological order, I wouldn’t have made it past episode one. :’)

I'm with you on that, Civ.

[SunkenCiv]

Note: this topic is from 5/12/2011. Thanks decimon. Re-ping. [singing] mitochondria, mitochondria, they are the mitochondria...

[null and void]

Literally the oldest excuse in The Book!