THE 9th ANNUAL SIR JOHN WALKER LECTURE
4.00 pm Tuesday, 3 December 2024
Venue: The Max Perutz Lecture Theatre
(MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue,
Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QH)
New mitochondrial mechanisms of degenerative diseases
Anu Suomalainen MD, PhD
Professor, Director
University of Helsinki
and
Academy Professor
Research Council of Finland
Mitochondrial diseases show unprecedented variability in different organ manifestations and ages of onset, but the mechanisms underlying such spectrum are poorly understood. Here, we report molecular mechanisms of how exogenous, actionable factors, or secondary metabolic pathway imbalance, have major effects on the disease course, both for disease onset and type of manifestation. For example, a specific recessively inherited mitochondrial disease allele in DNA polymerase gamma causes sensitivity to viral infections, allowing viral replication in early infection and causing a strong delayed proinflammatory response with dramatic effects on GABA-ergic neurons and liver homeostasis. Also, a muscle manifesting mitochondrial disease causes systemic NAD+ deficiency – bodily B3 vitamin deficiency -the rescue of which has functional benefits. Targeting exogenous triggering factors or endogenous secondary metabolic consequences, based on mechanistic precision targets, are intriguing intervention strategies, with potential to delay disease-onset or restore functions.
A Reception will be held in the Foyer at 5.00 pm
Enquiries to Penny Peck (01223) 252703