Researchers can finally modify plant mitochondrial DNA
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- Published on 26 July 2019
Rice in field (stock image). Credit: © orijinal_x / Adobe Stock
Researchers have edited plant mitochondrial DNA for the first time, which could lead to a more secure food supply. Nuclear DNA was first edited in the early 1970s, chloroplast DNA was first edited in 1988, and animal mitochondrial DNA was edited in 2008. However, no tool previously successfully edited plant mitochondrial DNA. Researchers used their technique to create four new lines of rice and three new lines of rapeseed (canola).
Nuclear DNA was first edited in the early 1970s, chloroplast DNA was first edited in 1988, and animal mitochondrial DNA was edited in 2008. However, no tool previously successfully edited plant mitochondrial DNA.
Researchers used their technique to create four new lines of rice and three new lines of rapeseed (canola).
"We knew we were successful when we saw that the rice plant was more polite -- it had a deep bow," said Associate Professor Shin-ichi Arimura, joking about how a fertile rice plant bends under the weight of heavy seeds.
Arimura is an expert in plant molecular genetics at the University of Tokyo and led the research team, whose results were published in Nature Plants. Collaborators at Tohoku University and Tamagawa University also contributed to the research.
News source: www.sciencedaily.com
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Caffeine from four cups of coffee protects the heart with the help of mitochondria
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- Published on 26 July 2019
A new study shows that a caffeine concentration equivalent to four cups of coffee promotes the movement of a regulatory protein into mitochondria, enhancing their function and protecting cardiovascular cells from damage.
Caffeine consumption has been associated with lower risks for multiple diseases, including type II diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, but the mechanism underlying these protective effects has been unclear. A new study now shows that caffeine promotes the movement of a regulatory protein into mitochondria, enhancing their function and protecting cardiovascular cells from damage. The work, publishing 21 June in the open access journal PLOS Biology, by Judith Haendeler and Joachim Altschmied of the Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University and the IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine in Duesseldorf, Germany, and colleagues, found that the protective effect was reached at a concentration equivalent to consumption of four cups of coffee, suggesting the effect may be physiologically relevant.
News source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180621141008.htm
PLOS. "Caffeine from four cups of coffee protects the heart with the help of mitochondria." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 21 June 2018. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180621141008.htm>.
Marvin Edeas - A Pilot Study - Microbiota Quality and Mitochondrial Activity Link with Occurrence of Muscle Cramps ...
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- Published on 25 April 2019
Marvin Edeas explains Microbiota Quality and Mitochondrial Activity Link with Occurrence of Muscle Cramps in Hemodialysis Patients using Citrate Dialysate: A Pilot Study
Authors: Pierre-Yves Durand, Carole Nicco, Dedier Serteyn, David Attaf, Marvin Edeas
BACKGROUND/AIMS:
Hemodialysis-associated muscle cramp (HAMC) is a common complication under citrate dialysate (CD) occurring in 30% of cases. Our objectives were to assess the gut microbiota quality, mitochondrial activity, and to investigate their possible relationship with HAMC.
METHODS:
Ten end-stage renal disease patients (78.9 ± 2.1 years) treated by hemodialysis (HD) with CD were enrolled and then classified according to the frequency of HAMCs: "frequent HAMCs group" (n = 5) and "absence of HAMCs group" (n = 5). Gut microbiota quality, mitochondrial activity, and some markers of oxidative stress (OS) were investigated.
RESULTS:
In patients with cramps, gut microbiota diversity seemed lower and some genera including Helicobacter, Lachnospira, Roseburia, and Haemophilus seemed over-expressed, a significant increase of citratemia and significant lowering mitochondrial function were observed. No difference was observed on the OS markers.
CONCLUSION:
This first clinical study revealed a possible dysbiosis of microbiota and a mitochondrial dysfunction into HD patients with cramps under CD compared to patients without cramp.
© 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.
Program of Targeting Mitochondria 2019 Congress/Speakers/Early Registration/May 21, 2019
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- Published on 15 May 2019
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Mitochondrial Copper Toxicity with a Focus on Wilson Disease
Selective segregation of mitochondria in asymmetric stem cell divisions
Cardiac glycosides modulate neuroblastoma stem cell survival by dysfunctional mitophagy
Mitochondria, as central regulators of neural stem cell fate
The cellular stress protein MNRR1/CHCHD2 and mitochondrial disease
Cannabinoids and skin: The "c(ut)annabinoid" system as a novel player in regulating cutaneous mitochondrial biology
Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species in heart failure
Biparental Inheritance of Mitochondrial DNA in Humans
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- Published on 10 December 2018
Photo Credit: seal1837, Pixabay
Significance
The energy-producing organelle mitochondrion contains its own compact genome, which is separate from the nuclear genome. In nearly all mammals, this mitochondrial genome is inherited exclusively from the mother, and transmission of paternal mitochondria or mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has not been convincingly demonstrated in humans. In this paper, we have uncovered multiple instances of biparental inheritance of mtDNA spanning three unrelated multiple generation families, a result confirmed by independent sequencing across multiple unrelated laboratories with different methodologies. Surprisingly, this pattern of inheritance appears to be determined in an autosomal dominantlike manner. This paper profoundly alters a widespread belief about mitochondrial inheritance and potentially opens a novel field in mitochondrial medicine.Abstract
Although there has been considerable debate about whether paternal mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) transmission may coexist with maternal transmission of mtDNA, it is generally believed that mitochondria and mtDNA are exclusively maternally inherited in humans. Here, we identified three unrelated multigeneration families with a high level of mtDNA heteroplasmy (ranging from 24 to 76%) in a total of 17 individuals. Heteroplasmy of mtDNA was independently examined by high-depth whole mtDNA sequencing analysis in our research laboratory and in two Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments and College of American Pathologists-accredited laboratories using multiple approaches. A comprehensive exploration of mtDNA segregation in these families shows biparental mtDNA transmission with an autosomal dominantlike inheritance mode. Our results suggest that, although the central dogma of maternal inheritance of mtDNA remains valid, there are some exceptional cases where paternal mtDNA could be passed to the offspring. Elucidating the molecular mechanism for this unusual mode of inheritance will provide new insights into how mtDNA is passed on from parent to offspring and may even lead to the development of new avenues for the therapeutic treatment for pathogenic mtDNA transmission.
Reference: Shiyu Luo, C. Alexander Valencia, Jinglan Zhang, Ni-Chung Lee, Jesse Slone, Baoheng Gui et al. 2018. Biparental Inheritance of Mitochondrial DNA in Humans. PNAS. doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1810946115
News source: www.pnas.org
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