Screening for Small Molecules that Reduce Age-Related Decline in Mitochondrial Function in Neurons

The materials here report on efforts to screen for small molecule compounds that can reduce the age-related decline of mitochondrial function observed in neurons - and indeed throughout the body. Screening the contents of compound libraries is a process that might sound simple, and conceptually it is, but it is a complex task to build a cost-effective system and supporting logistics to screen for a novel outcome. In this case the outcome is a reversal of at least some degree of reduced mitochondrial function in neurons from old tissue, as well as improvement in important aspects of neural function. Every cell contains a herd of a few hundred mitochondria, the distant descendants of ancient symbiotic bacteria, evolved to become fully integrated component parts of the cell. They still replicate like bacteria, can fuse and split and pass around pieces of their protein machinery, and contain a small remnant genome. Mitochondria have many roles, but are primarily responsible for producing adenosine triphosphate (ATP), chemical energy store molecules that are used to power cellular processes. This is a fairly energetic activity that has the side-effect of producing reactive oxidative molecules that damage cell structures; in a normal, youthful metabolism this is entirely compensated for by repair processes, and is in fact used as a signal. For example, it enables some of the benefits of exercise by linking increased energy production to increased cell maintenance and muscle ...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs