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new science study

Discussion in 'Other Health News and Research' started by Gerwyn, Feb 14, 2010.

  1. Gerwyn

    Gerwyn Guest

    A single change in the DNA of mitochondria - the cellular power plants that generate energy in all human cells - has been found to cause degenerative heart and muscle disease, according to University of California, Irvine researchers.

    The study provides new insights into age-related disease and further proof that the mitochondria play a central role in human health. Study results appear in the 15 February issue of Science.

    Douglas Wallace, director of the Centre for Molecular and Mitochondrial Medicine and Genetics at UC Irvine and study leader, says the findings also address a core dilemma facing efforts to cure and treat inherited degenerative diseases, including chronic heart and muscle disease.

    'While these diseases traditionally have been assumed to result from mutations in the genes encoded by DNA in the cell's nucleus,' he said, 'most common degenerative diseases frequently do not exhibit inheritance patterns wholly consistent with our understanding of these nuclear DNA genetics. Our demonstration that mutations in the mitochondrial DNA can also cause the same diseases means that both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA genes that affect mitochondrial function can contribute to disease risk.'



    They then used female mouse embryonic stem cells to create mice in which this mitochondrial DNA energy deficiency mutation was inherited through the female germ line, which is the reproductive cells and other genetic material passed to offspring. Mice harbouring the mutant mitochondrial DNA appeared normal early in life, but by one year they developed marked muscle and heart disease, similar to disease that can develop in humans.

    'Consequently, mitochondrial DNA mutations and their related energy defects are sufficient to cause age-related disease,' said Wallace, the Donald Bren Professor of Biological Sciences and Molecular Medicine and a National Academy of Sciences member. 'Therefore, mitochondrial energy deficiency may be a common factor in these diseases.'



    Since the mitochondrial DNA is outside of the cell's nucleus and not associated with its DNA, it is inherited exclusively from the mother and is present in thousands of copies per cell.

    As the mitochondrial DNA of our cells accumulates damage with age, the blueprints required to sustain energy production are lost, the body's equivalent of a brownowt

    If one DNA sequence deletion causes a 50% drop in output of mitochondria what could happen with xmrv inserion??? Me symptoms and symptoms of old age are very similar
  2. Mithriel

    Mithriel Senior Member

    I have always believed that mitochondrial problems were the root of my ME. There is evidence going back thirty years.

    A large well funded study into our mitochondria would be a great way forward.


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