Catalog of mitochondria across life's family tree unearths unusual functions
A research consortium has generated the broadest look yet at the proteins that make up mitochondria, capturing the organelle's diversity across multiple branches on the tree of complex life. With major contributions from Broad Institute scientists and its Proteomics Platform, the consortium generated and analyzed the mitochondrial proteomes of one plant and five single-celled pathogens that…
A groundbreaking research effort has mapped the diverse proteins found within mitochondria across various life forms, offering new insights into the organelle's functions and evolution. Led by scientists from the Broad Institute, Mass General Brigham, Harvard Medical School, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Boston University, the MitoCarta Tree of Life project has generated proteomes from a plant and five single-celled pathogens responsible for numerous global diseases.
This comprehensive analysis reveals unexpected mitochondrial functions, clues to mitochondrial origin, and potential drug targets for neglected tropical diseases. The findings, published in nine scientific papers and a commentary in Cell, shed light on the organelle's role in complex eukaryotic evolution and highlight the diverse energy-producing machinery found in various organisms.
Written by urgent.news from Phys.org's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
