Descripción del proyecto
Muerte neuronal en las mitocondriopatías: ¿cuál es la causa?
Las mitocondrias se consideran la central de energía de la célula, ya que generan la energía necesaria para todos los procesos celulares. Los defectos de la función mitocondrial provocan enfermedades mitocondriales primarias con síntomas graves y a menudo mortales. Los tratamientos actuales para las mitocondriopatías son limitados y se basan sobre todo en ofrecer cuidados paliativos. En el proyecto NEUROMITO, financiado por el Consejo Europeo de Investigación, se pretende ampliar los conocimientos sobre por qué las células neuronales son especialmente susceptibles a las enfermedades mitocondriales. Sus investigadores utilizarán herramientas genéticas y de biología molecular para identificar y analizar los determinantes moleculares de la vulnerabilidad neuronal en las mitocondriopatías. El objetivo es descubrir nuevas dianas terapéuticas para tratamientos eficaces con el potencial de ampliar la aplicabilidad de estas herramientas a otras afecciones.
Objetivo
Mitochondria generate most of the energy cells require to function. Deficits in the mitochondrial energy-generating machinery affect 1:5,000 children and cause progressive, debilitating, and usually fatal pathologies collectively known as primary mitochondrial disease. To date, there is no cure for mitochondrial disease and existing treatments are highly ineffective and mostly palliative. High-energy-requiring cells, such as neurons, are especially affected in mitochondrial disease. However, not all neuronal populations are equally affected. Furthermore, the molecular determinants of neuronal vulnerability to mitochondrial disease have not been adequately elucidated, representing a challenge for the development of efficient treatments for these pathologies. To improve on current knowledge on mitochondrial disease and to provide better therapeutic targets, this project focuses on developing ground-breaking mouse genetics and molecular biology tools that will allow the identification and dissection of the molecular determinants of neuronal vulnerability in mitochondrial disease with unprecedented definition. We will develop novel techniques to isolate both the mitochondrial and cytosolic translatome by using ribosomal tagging in vivo as well as to assess intact mitochondrial function with cell-type specificity and temporal resolution. These novel approaches will have a high impact in mitochondrial disease, with the overall aim of identifying novel therapeutic targets that will lead to effective treatments for mitochondrial disease. Furthermore, the high applicability of the tools generated will allow significant breakthroughs in the research of other pathologies with mitochondrial affectation such as diabetes or neurodegenerative processes.
Ámbito científico
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
ERC-STG - Starting GrantInstitución de acogida
08193 Cerdanyola Del Valles
España