Researchers Expand Role Of Mitochondria In Cell Division

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Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology;  Genetics
Article Date: 24 Apr 2008 - 17:00 PDT

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A new study published in the open-access journal PLoS Genetics reports that mitochondria in yeast cells are very influential in the process of cell division.

Biochemist Heidi M. Blank and colleagues from Texas AgriLife Research indicate that mitochondria are the fuel of the cell and act as a type of "driver" in cell division. The authors maintain that this knowledge of mitochondria's role may help find cures for several human diseases. Not only do mitochondria generate about 90% of the cell's energy, but they may also tell the cell how fast to divide, according to the researchers.

"The finding changes the traditional view of the mitochondrion from an 'energy depot' at the service of its larger cellular host to a 'command center' that directs cell division," said Michael Polymenis, co-author of the study.

The biochemists used regular baker's years - the same type responsible for breads, wines, and beers - because of its similarity to human cells in terms of its processes. Co-author Mary Bryk notes that, "From unicellular yeast to complex mammals, the process is the same. The job of a cell is to divide and grow. Metabolism takes in 'food' and turns it into fuel and building blocks for DNA replication and gene expression."

Diseases are potential results if these cellular processes fail. Typical cancer cells tend to have too much cell division too rapidly. On the other hand, mitochondrial deficiencies that result in poor metabolism can encourage damage to the brain, heart, skeletal muscles, and liver.

Polymenis indicated that, "All of the body processes that require a lot of energy are impacted by this. In fact, at least 1 in every 4,000 people worldwide suffer from mitochondrial deficiencies that result in problems with normal development, motor control, vision, hearing, or liver and kidney function." However, quick cell division may be advantageous if trying to accelerate a healing wound or in some agricultural applications.

"If we can understand the basic pathway that regulates cell division, we can think of ways to tweak the different steps in that path with therapeutics to help people who have problems with these high-energy organs," said Bryk. This current research demonstrated that the yeast cell's mitochondria decided to give the signal, the message was received by the cell's nucleus, and cell division began.

"So now we need to connect that link," concluded Polymenis. "We need to understand how and when the mitochondria send the message. If we know how the message is sent, we might be able to control it."

An Increase in Mitochondrial DNA Promotes Nuclear DNA Replication in Yeast
Blank HM, Li C, Mueller JE, Bogomolnaya LM, Bryk M, et al.
PLoS Genetics (2008). 4(4):e1000047.
doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1000047
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Written by: Peter M Crosta
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