Together with Agnieszka Chacinska from the University of Freiburg in Germany, Maria Lind from Uppsala University is lead author of the article in Cell.
Agnieszka Chacinska’s and her study shows how the TIM23 complex functions, something that was previously unknown. The TIM23 complex regulates the transport of protein to the mitochondria in the cell. The findings reveal that the TIM23 complex is highly complicated. It can transport proteins even though there is a tension between the two sides of the complex.
“The complex opens only a single channel when the protein comes, in order not to disturb the negative or positive charge on the respective sides of the complex,” explains Maria Lind.
“It is essential that the voltage created by the difference in the charges be maintained when the mitochondria are to produce energy.”
The TIM23 complex can also change shape depending on where the protein is ultimately to be transported. In this way the same complex can transport proteins to different final destinations.
Maria Lind and Agnieszka Chacinska have also identified a new protein, Tim21, which participates in protein transport.
Defects in mitochondria give rise to some one hundred disorders, including Huntington’s disease, Mohr-Tranebjaerg syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.
“We need more knowledge about mitochondria if we are to be able to understand these diseases,” avers Maria Lind.
The study was carried out on yeast, which researchers often use as a model organism because it is one of the simplest organisms with mitochondria.
“But mitochondria function in the same way in all organisms, and there are many things in yeast cells that are similar to human cells,” says Maria Lind.
Maria Lind, Section for Comparative Physiology, Center for Evolutionary Biology, Uppsala University, phone: +46 18-471 28 11, e-mail: maria.lind@ebc.uu.se
22 September, 2023 - Uppsala universitet
Turnout in the general elections in 2022 fell more sharply in electoral districts that had long queues to the polling stations than in comparable districts without queuing issues. Queuing can only explain a small part of the decrease in turnout between the years 2018 and 2022, however. 87 percent of the population voted in 2018, which fell to 84 percent in 2022.
19 September, 2023 - Uppsala universitet
Stacy VanDeveer, professor in Global Governance and Human Security at the University of Massachusetts Boston becomes visiting professor in Climate Change Leadership at Uppsala University. The ten-years series of visiting professorships is financed by a previous donation to Uppsala University by alumnus Niklas Zennström and Catherine Zennström through their foundation Zennström Philanthropies.
19 September, 2023 - Uppsala universitet
Stacy VanDeveer, professor i Global Governance and Human Security vid University of Massachusetts i Boston blir den sjätte gästprofessorn i klimatledarskap vid Uppsala universitet. Den tioåriga gästprofessuren, där en ny professor inbjuds varje eller vartannat år, finansieras genom en tidigare donation av entreprenören Niklas Zennström och hans hustru Catherine Zennström till Uppsala universitet.
11 September, 2023 - Uppsala universitet
Horizon Europe, the European Union’s research initiative, announces €150 million funding for Battery 2030+, an initiative for developing advanced green battery technology. This signifies a renewed confidence in Battery 2030+ coordinated by Uppsala University, Sweden, with the goal to make Europe the world leader in the development and production of green batteries.
Expertsvar, The Swedish Research Council, Hantverkargatan 11B, Stockholm SWEDENPhone +46(0)8 546 44 000
P.O. Box 1035, SE-101 38 Stockholm, expertsvar@vr.se
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