As we age or develop neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's , our brain cells may not produce sufficient energy to remain fully functional. Researchers discovered that an enzyme called SIRT3 that is located in mitochondria -- the cell's powerhouse -- may protect mice brains against the kinds of stresses believed to contribute to energy loss. Furthermore, mice that ran on a wheel increased their levels of this protective enzyme.
Researchers led by Mark Mattson, Ph.D., of the National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, used a new animal model to investigate whether they could aid neurons in resisting the energy-depleting stress caused by neurotoxins and other factors. They found the following:
These findings suggest that bolstering mitochondrial function and stress resistance by increasing SIRT3 levels may offer a promising therapeutic target for protecting against age-related cognitive decline and brain diseases. The research team report their findings online Nov. 19 in the journal Cell Metabolism .
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ARTICLE: Cheng, A. Mitochondrial SIRT3 mediates adaptive responses of neurons to exercise, and metabolic and excitatory challenges. Cell Metabolism . E-published Nov. 19, 2015.
Other authors on the paper are Aiwu Cheng, Ying Yang, Ye Zhou, Chinmoyee Maharana, Daoyuan Lu, Wei Peng, Yong Liu, Ruiqian Wan, Krisztina Marosi, Magdalena Misiak and Vilhelm A. Bohr, all of the National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program. This work was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute on Aging and the Glenn Foundation for Biomedical Research.
Cell Metabolism