Yeast gives rise to new concept: cell fuel is 'brains' behind division
With the cost of diesel and gasoline getting nearer to the hourly minimum wage, too bad the fuel doesn鈥檛 do more work - like deciding what route to take and pressing the gas pedal.
While that concept isn鈥檛 likely to work for vehicle fuel, a new study has found that it is, in fact, what goes on in the cells of yeast.
Mitochondria, the fuel of a cell, has been found to be the 鈥渄river鈥� for cell division, according to Texas AgriLife Research biochemists. This discovery could play a big role in finding cures for many human diseases, they say.
The biochemists studied yeast cells and found that mitochondria, which generates 90 percent of the cell鈥檚 energy, can be the deciding factor 鈥� the 鈥渂rain power鈥� 鈥� behind how fast cells divide.
The finding by Drs. Michael Polymenis and Mary Bryk and their research groups in Texas A&M University鈥檚 biochemistry and biophysics department was published in today鈥檚 open-access journal Public Library of Science-Genetics. The research was funded by the National Institute of Health.
鈥淭he finding changes the traditional view of the mitochondrion from an 鈥榚nergy depot鈥� at the service of its larger cellular host to a 鈥榗ommand center鈥� that directs cell division,鈥� Polymenis said.
The researchers used regular baker鈥檚 yeast 鈥� commonly used in breads, wine and beer making 鈥� because many of the yeast cell鈥檚 processes are similar to those in human cells, according to Bryk.
鈥淔rom unicellular yeast to complex mammals, the process is the same,鈥� Bryk said. 鈥淭he job of a cell is to divide and grow. Metabolism takes in 鈥榝ood鈥� and turns it into fuel and building blocks for DNA replication and gene expression.鈥�
But when these processes falter, diseases can result. Too much cell division too quickly, for example, is typical of cancerous cells, Polymenis pointed out. Conversely, poor metabolism 鈥� stemming from mitochondrial deficiencies 鈥� is at the root of damage to various organs such as the brain, heart, skeletal muscles and liver.
鈥淎ll of the body processes that require a lot of energy are impacted by this,鈥� Polymenis added.鈥� In fact, at least 1 in every 4,000 people worldwide suffer from mitochondrial deficiencies that result in problems with normal development, motor control, vision, hearing, or liver and kidney function.鈥�
On the other hand, there are times when speeding cell division might be useful as with wound healing and plant or crop production, Bryk noted.
鈥淚f we can understand the basic pathway that regulates cell division, we can think of ways to tweak the different steps in that path with therapeutics to help people who have problems with these high-energy organs,鈥� she said.
Polymenis said the research showed that when a yeast cell鈥檚 mitochondria decided to 鈥渢urn on the switch,鈥� the cell鈥檚 nucleus 鈥� which carries most of the genetic material 鈥� received the message and cell division began.
鈥淪o now we need to connect that link,鈥� Polymenis said. 鈥淲e need to understand how and when the message is sent. If we know how the message is sent from the mitochondria, we might be able to control it.鈥�
Source: Texas A&M University
