skip to content

MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit

 
Read more at: Early data presented at The Champ Foundation's 3rd Pearson Syndrome Conference

Early data presented at The Champ Foundation's 3rd Pearson Syndrome Conference

25 July 2022

On Saturday, 9 July 2022, Drs Michal Minczuk, leader of the MBU's Mitochondrial Genetics research group and Pedro Silva-Pinheiro, postdoctoral researcher in this group, attended The Champ Foundation's 3rd Pearson Syndrome Conference at Mitochondrial Medicine Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) . Pearson...


Read more at: Reducing pdzd8-mediated MERCs in vivo using Drosophila slows age-associated decline in locomotor activity

Reducing pdzd8-mediated MERCs in vivo using Drosophila slows age-associated decline in locomotor activity

15 July 2022

Mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum (ER) contact sites (MERCs) orchestrate many important cellular functions including regulating mitochondrial quality control through mitophagy and mediating mitochondrial calcium uptake. In a new paper from the Mitochondrial Neurodegeneration group , Dr Victoria Hewitt , with other members...


Read more at: Identification of the substrate binding mechanism of the mitochondrial ADP/ATP carrier

Identification of the substrate binding mechanism of the mitochondrial ADP/ATP carrier

28 June 2022

The results of a research study carried out by members of the MBU's group on Mitochondrial Transport Processes , published in Nature Communications , has identified the substrate binding mechanism of the ADP/ATP carrier, also called adenine nucleotide translocase. These transport proteins have unique features that enable...


Read more at: Congratulations to Professor Patrick Chinnery FRCP FMedSci

Congratulations to Professor Patrick Chinnery FRCP FMedSci

28 June 2022

Professor Patrick Chinnery has been awarded The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries ' most prestigious award - The Galen Medal in Therapeutics. The Medal is awarded in recognition of valuable services or contributions to the science of therapeutics. It has been awarded to Patrick for his work developing treatments for...


Read more at: Mike Murphy collaborates to propose new guidelines for measuring ROS and oxidative damage

Mike Murphy collaborates to propose new guidelines for measuring ROS and oxidative damage

27 June 2022

In a consensus statement published today in Nature Metabolism , Professor Mike Murphy and collaborative experts from across the globe illuminate problems that can arise with many commonly used approaches for measurement of ROS and oxidative damage, and propose guidelines for best practice. Multiple roles of reactive oxygen...


Read more at: Michal Minczuk's research highlighted in The Guardian

Michal Minczuk's research highlighted in The Guardian

27 June 2022

In an article published in The Guardian (The Observer - Medical Science) on Sunday, 26 June 2022, Dr David Cox highlights the research undertaken at the MBU by Dr Michal Minczuk and his colleagues, particularly in the areas of mitochondrial diseases where mutant mtDNA is genetically inherited.


Read more at: Bottisham Primary School: Science Day

Bottisham Primary School: Science Day

27 June 2022

On Thursday, 23 June, members of the MBU participated in Bottisham Primary School's Science Day. We took a variety of games and activities for three carousel sessions for students in years 5 and 6 (ages 9-11 years) and they learned about mitochondria, mitochondrial DNA, energy conversion and fruit flies. The children asked...


Read more at: Tumour necrosis factor induces pathogenic mitochondrial ROS in tuberculosis through reverse electron transport

Tumour necrosis factor induces pathogenic mitochondrial ROS in tuberculosis through reverse electron transport

24 June 2022

The results of a collaborative research study involving MRC MBU members have been published in Science . The study was led by Professor Lalita Ramakrishnan (Group Leader in the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology's Cell Biology Division and Head of the University of Cambridge’s Molecular Immunity Unit (housed at the LMB)...


Read more at: Professor Sir John Walker receives Cambridge Honorary Doctorate

Professor Sir John Walker receives Cambridge Honorary Doctorate

23 June 2022

Congratulations to Professor Sir John Walker, FRS , Emeritus Director of the MBU and Fellow of Sidney Sussex College , who received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science honoris causa from the University of Cambridge yesterday - 22 June - at a ceremony that was previously postponed due to COVID-19. The Chancellor of the...


Read more at: Identification of TMEM63C as a new motor neurone degenerative disease gene

Identification of TMEM63C as a new motor neurone degenerative disease gene

20 June 2022

The membrane contact sites between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the mitochondria, called mitochondria-ER contact sites (MERCs), are dynamic signalling platforms essential for cellular viability. Indeed, MERCs are not only required to maintain mitochondrial membrane integrity by regulating the biogenesis and...