Projektbeschreibung
Mitochondriale DNS-Mutationen und ihre Auswirkungen auf die Gesundheit
Mitochondrien enthalten ihr eigenes Genom, ein kompaktes, zirkuläres, doppelsträngiges DNS-Molekül, das für 13 Proteinuntereinheiten der Atmungskettenkomplexe kodiert. Neue Erkenntnisse deuten darauf hin, dass akkumulierende mitochondriale DNS-Mutationen eine Rolle bei der Funktion der Organellen spielen. Das vom Europäischen Forschungsrat finanzierte Projekt RevMito wird die möglichen Auswirkungen mitochondrialer DNS-Mutationen auf Alterung und Krankheit untersuchen. Die Forschenden werden die Hefe Saccharomyces cerevisiae als Modellorganismus verwenden, um die Folgen von mitochondrialer DNS-Schädigung und -Verlust zu analysieren, wobei der Schwerpunkt auf der Proteinhomöostase liegt. Die Ergebnisse könnten unser Verständnis der mitochondrialen Dysfunktion vertiefen und möglicherweise zu neuen Behandlungsmöglichkeiten für mitochondriale Erkrankungen führen.
Ziel
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) encodes several proteins playing key roles in bioenergetics. Pathological mutations of mtDNA can be inherited or may accumulate following treatment for viral infections or cancer. Furthermore, many organisms, including humans, accumulate significant mtDNA damage during their lifespan, and it is therefore possible that mtDNA mutations can promote the aging process.
There are no effective treatments for most diseases caused by mtDNA mutation. An understanding of the cellular consequences of mtDNA damage is clearly imperative. Toward this goal, we use the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a cellular model of mitochondrial dysfunction. Genetic manipulation and biochemical study of this organism is easily achieved, and many proteins and processes important for mitochondrial biogenesis were first uncovered and best characterized using this experimental system. Importantly, current evidence suggests that processes required for survival of cells lacking a mitochondrial genome are widely conserved between yeast and other organisms, making likely the application of our findings to human health.
We will study the repercussions of mtDNA damage by three different strategies. First, we will investigate the link between a conserved, nutrient-sensitive signalling pathway and the outcome of mtDNA loss, since much recent evidence points to modulation of such pathways as a potential approach to increase the fitness of cells with mtDNA damage. Second, we will explore the possibility that defects in cytosolic proteostasis are precipitated by mtDNA mutation. Third, we will apply the knowledge and concepts gained in S. cerevisiae to both candidate-based and unbiased searches for genes that determine the aftermath of severe mtDNA damage in human cells. Beyond the mechanistic knowledge of mitochondrial dysfunction that will emerge from this project, we expect to identify new avenues toward the treatment of mitochondrial disease.
Wissenschaftliches Gebiet
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNA
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologygenetic engineering
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsmutation
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncology
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsantivirals
Programm/Programme
Thema/Themen
Finanzierungsplan
ERC-STG - Starting GrantGastgebende Einrichtung
00014 Helsingin Yliopisto
Finnland