Body’s Power Stations Affect Aging

Researchers have revealed novel mechanisms in mitochondria that have implications for cancer as well as many other age-related diseases such as Parkinson's disease, heart disease and hypertension.

In mammals, all cells have two distinct genomes, which include all of an organism's hereditary information. One set exists in the nucleus while the other exists in mitochondria, the energy generators of the cell. Published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a study found that two DNA modifications act like a genetic on/off switch in a process known as DNA methylation. The presence of these DNA modifications leads the researchers to believe that a system of gene control similar to what occurs in the nucleus is present in mitochondria, functioning to ensure the correct levels of proteins needed for proper energy generation.

"In diseases such as cancer, epigenetic control is lost," says researchers. "Genes that should be switched on are switched off and vice versa, leading to uncontrolled growth. Our research indicates that errors in gene expression could be unfolding in mitochondria, possibly contributing to loss of mitochondrial function typical of cancer and a host of other age-related diseases." The researchers are currently working to force into mitochondria more of the enzyme responsible for forming the silencing mark, and to identify enzymes responsible for removing it.

More on Mitochondria, Aging
Mitochondria are the body's energy producers, the power stations inside our cells. Researchers have now identified a group of mitochondrial proteins, that could delay the onset of age-related diseases and increase lifespan. In a study published in the journal Molecular Cell, the group of MTC proteins, which are normally needed for mitochondrial protein synthesis, also have other functions that influence genome stability and the cell's capacity to remove damaged and harmful proteins. They then gain increased significance for the stabilization of the genome and for combating protein damage, which leads to increased lifespan. The MTC-dependent regulation of the rate of aging uses the same signalling pathways that are activated in calorie restriction -- something that extends the lifespan of many different organisms, including yeasts, mice and primates. At the moment this is only preliminary research, but the role of the MTC proteins in the aging process is a fascinating process to be further explored.

Steve - why have we posted both of these studies?

1. To show how incredibly important mitochondria is to an optimally functioning individual.
   
2. For those with under-performing mitochondria, the most heavily researched enzyme to assist with optimally performing mitochondria is Co-EnzymeQ10 (CoQ10). Whether CoQ10 can actually assist with silencing negative expression in genes involved with diseases such as cancer has not been substantiated. However, CoQ10 has been linked to cancer prevention as well as myriad other diseases. Hopefully the researchers are examining CoQ10 as part of the solution.
   
   Whether for therapeutic or preventive purposes, CoQ10 is a crucial supplement to include in our arsenal.