mitochondria

September 22, 2022

Reduced exercise capacity in ICU survivors

ICU survivors who have impaired exercise capacity months after discharge may have damaged muscle mitochondria — the energy powerhouses of the cell, Vanderbilt researchers propose.

By Kelsey Pinckard
August 15, 2022

Mitochondria and retinal degeneration

Vanderbilt researchers have developed a new cellular model for exploring mitochondrial dysfunction in age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in people over 65.

By Leigh MacMillan
doctor checking patient's blood pressure
January 12, 2021

Mitochondrial stress and hypertension

Oxidative stress and toxic products called isolevuglandins in mitochondria play a role in endothelial dysfunction and hypertension — and getting rid of them with a special “scavenger” molecule has therapeutic potential.

By Leigh MacMillan
September 3, 2020

Assembling cell power plant machinery

Tina Iverson and colleagues provide a structural view into the assembly of a protein machine essential for cellular energy production.

By Leigh MacMillan
February 20, 2020

Transporter mutation alters cell energy

A disease-associated mutation in a transporter protein causes cells to increase energy production, as if they are starving, Vanderbilt researchers have discovered.

By Leigh MacMillan
October 11, 2018

Novel genetic study sheds new light on risk of heart attack

Loss of a protein that regulates mitochondrial function can greatly increase the risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack), Vanderbilt scientists reported Oct. 3 in the journal eLife.

By Bill Snyder
February 22, 2018

Mitochondrial mutations and disease

New findings suggest that oxidative stress damages mitochondrial DNA, and they link this damage to a disease state.
By Sanjay Mishra
February 19, 2015

Study sheds light on a ‘guardian’ protein of brain function

Mitochondria not only are the cell’s main power producers, they are also the chief cooks and bottle washers.
By Bill Snyder
September 26, 2014

Biomarker for diabetic eye disease

A person’s mitochondrial gene “signature” could predict risk for diabetic retinopathy and guide early intervention strategies.
By Leigh MacMillan
November 25, 2013

Mitochondrial mutations not random

A study of mitochondrial DNA mutations suggests they result from a process that selects for particular mutations in certain tissues.
By Leigh MacMillan
July 11, 2013

Model for MADD mitochondrial disease

A zebrafish model of a severe mitochondrial disease will be useful for developing new therapeutic approaches.
By Leigh MacMillan
June 22, 2012

Kids’ cells okay after mom’s cancer radiation

Study finds no evidence of increased mitochondrial mutations in the children of women treated with radiation for cancer.
By VUMC News and Communications
May 18, 2011

Evolution of cell’s power plant genome

Vanderbilt researchers provide new information about how the genome inside our cellular “power plants” – the mitochondria – has evolved.
By VUMC News and Communications