How Mitochondria and the Cell Nucleus Coordinate to Create Proteins

Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
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Published 2024-04-30
Mitochondria contain the tiny power plants that churn out life-sustaining energy molecules in our cells. In 2016, the lab of HMS geneticist Stirling Churchman showed that in yeast, cell nuclei and mitochondria coordinate their gene activity to build these power plants. Now the lab has revealed further details in human cells — uncovering unexpected swings in each organelle's protein production processes that ultimately balance out for healthy cell function.

"It’s wild that the rates are so different and in the end they still end up at the same point," said first author Erik McShane, EMBO postdoctoral fellow in the Churchman lab.

The work deepens understanding of how mitochondria and nuclear gene activity coordinate in healthy cells and how imbalances can lead to mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular aging, and diseases of energy metabolism, including neurodegeneration. Such knowledge provides a foundation for researchers to one day develop ways to prevent or treat such conditions.

Findings were published in Molecular Cell.
All Comments (6)
  • @storminnormin2570
    Need to hear more from Harvard. This animation is an example of excellence that I’d like to see more of.
  • @landleven1088
    I just heard your rap song hahah... Now my last bit of faith in the medical world is totally gone. I shared it with friends so they can laugh about it as well.
  • @bingeltube
    Video too short! There is a reason why e.g. PragerU videos are 5 minutes long!