Newly Identified Role For 'Power Plants' In Human Cells Could Lead To Targeted Therapies
Wednesday, June 25, 2008 - 08:21
in Biology & Nature
Scientists have determined that human cells are able to shift important gene products into their own mitochondria, considered the power plants of cells. The finding could eventually lead to therapies for dozens of diseases. The gene products, known as tRNAs, assemble amino acids for the production of proteins within mitochondria. If the mitochondrial tRNA genes are defective or missing, and proteins are not manufactured, the mitochondria are unable to generate adequate energy.
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