Mitochondrial dysfunction modifies stem cell function: A hot Topic of Targeting Mitochondria 2013

StemCellsIntegrity of mitochondrial genome is essential for proper function of stem cells. It is the hot topic presented by Riikka Hamalainen, from University of Helsinki, Finland during the next World Congress on Targeting Mitochondria 2013.
 
Mitochondrial mutagenesis in somatic stem cells leads to severe self-renewal defects and is likely to underlie the progeroid manifestations in PolG deficient mutator mice. We have further studied the effect of mitochondrial mutations on pluripotent stem cells. Independent of their glycolytic nature and similarly to somatic stem and progenitor cells, also pluripotent stem cells are highly sensitive to mitochondrial mutations.
 

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