Scientists at Salk Cancer Centre, San Diego, California, have discovered that the protein FNIP1 senses low energy levels in a cell, leading to the removal and replacement of damaged mitochondria.
'This is a final puzzle piece that connects decades of studies from labs all over the world. It solves one of the final mysteries about how the signal to make new mitochondria is tied to the original signal that energy levels are low,' said Dr Reuben Shaw, senior author and director of Salk's Cancer Centre.
The findings of this research are published in Science, which the authors hope will provide more insights into conditions linked to mitochondria, such as neurodegenerative disease and cancer.
Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News has the full story.