Cell 126, 163-175; 177-189 (2006). Cell Press 14 July 2006 | Abs (163) | Abs (177) |

cell’s aging fast

As the power stations of cells, mitochondria bear much relation to cells' aging and apoptosis. Therefore, it has been suspected that abnormal mitochondria could be responsible for the deterioration diseases like dementia. Recently, by elucidating the interrelation between the protein PARL (presenilin-associated rhomboid-like, which is one of the major players in Alzheimer's disease), OPA 1 (a profusion dynamin-related protein) and the morphology changing of the inner mitochondrial membrane, two leading groups from Belgium and Italy revealed the key function of the enzyme PARL. They discovered that a lack of PARL caused much soluble form of OPA 1, and then a higher releasing level of cytochrome c, thus, largely amplified apotosis. Among other things such as amassing of the unfolded protein, the dysfunctional mitochondria due to the enzyme PARL losing and the membrane cristae remodeling gives a good understanding of the aging processes and of diseases like Parkinson's disease. --PL

aging skin 2006
Credit: Scidea Art 2006 Source: www.ScideaNews.com