Mitochondria have an essential role in controlling the metabolism, energy status and survival of cells through diverse molecular pathways. They act as a metabolic hub, regulating the breakdown of glucose, lipids and amino acids that we uptake from are daily diet.
Mitochondrial dysfunction is the primary cause of rare mitochondrial diseases but play also a role in common diseases such as diabetes and cancer. The dysfunction is often linked to defects in the respiratory chain enzymes that consume oxygen and nutrients to provide energy for the whole organism. This has led to a rising interest in the alternative respiratory chain enzymes, that are present in plants and many animal species but not in vertebrates such as human or the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster.
Drosophila provides a convenient model organism to investigate the effects these enzymes might have on humans and to study the metabolic changes they may cause. Because of the short life span, yet, surprisingly conserved metabolic pathways with humans, Drosophila provides a fast-forward developmental model for both reproductive and metabolic studies.
By introducing the alternative respiratory chain enzymes to the fly, and manipulating the animal’s mating and dietary conditions, we are able to pinpoint some of the advantages and limitations that the alternative enzyme introduces in mitochondrial metabolism and signalling.
In-depth analysis of the mechanisms involved in these effects will enhance the value of these enzymes as a tool to alter mitochondrial metabolism in diseases, such as the aerobic glycolysis, also known as Warburg effect, activated in many cancers. These enzymes may also provide a potential future treatment for mitochondrial diseases that until this day have no cure.
The doctoral dissertation of MSc Sina Saari in the field of molecular biology titled Effects of Alternative Oxidase in Drosophila under Environmental Stress will be publicly examined in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology at 12 o’clock, 5th of October 2019 in auditorium F115, Arvo building, Arvo Ylpönkatu 34, Tampere. The Opponent will be Associate Professor Ville Hietakangas from University of Helsinki. The Custos will be Professor Howard Jacobs from Tampere University.
The dissertation will be available online at http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-03-1241-1