The relationship between the maintenance of mitochondria and aging.
Life (Saitama University Research Seed Collection 2025-25 p.120)
Keywords: aging, lifespan, senescence, mitochondria, mitochondrial DNA
Living organisms age over time, but the actual timing varies. Is there something involved in "aging"? We have been elucidating this issue from the perspective of gene function. Experiments using the fruit fly have shown that most of it is related to the maintenance of mitochondria. Mitochondria are the powerhouses that generate energy for activity, but due to daily wear and tear, they develop defects that need to be removed. Mitochondria undergo repeated division and fusion to dispose of the defective parts. Additionally, many of the genes necessary for mitochondrial function are encoded in their own unique DNA, but sometimes there are significant deficiencies. When the genes responsible for properly maintaining mitochondria become abnormal, mitochondria can become dysfunctional, accelerating the aging process. By renewing the genes that lead to accelerated aging, we can contribute to research on the mechanisms of aging and potentially apply this knowledge to industrial crops that are key to increasing longevity.
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Shin Hatakeyama, Associate Professor Graduate School of Science and Technology, Department of Life Sciences, Field of Biological Control 【Recent Research Themes】 ● Exploration of genes that suppress aging ● Role of reactive oxygen species in the maintenance of mitochondrial DNA ● Elucidation of the functions of genes involved in mitochondrial elimination
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【Appeal Points to the Industry】 ● Research on the functions of unidentified new genes is necessary to elucidate the causes of intractable mitochondrial diseases. ● There are many ethical issues in determining and clarifying new genes in humans. ● By using the red yeast, which excels in genetic analysis and possesses mitochondria, new approaches are possible. ● Insights can also be applied to industrial crops that contain mitochondria (such as mushrooms). 【Examples of Practical Application, Use Cases, and Utilization】 ● In the future, it will be possible to provide information related to medical and health fields concerning aging and lifespan. ● Useful insights can be provided for maintaining beneficial strains in mushrooms and for the eradication of pathogenic fungi.
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The Saitama University Open Innovation Center is a center that functions as a liaison office for industry-academia-government collaboration. It consists of three departments: the Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Department, the Intellectual Property Department, and the Startup Support Department, each staffed with coordinators well-versed in various fields. The center's activities include solving technical challenges in companies, supporting the implementation of joint research, and conducting technology transfer aimed at introducing and utilizing Saitama University's intellectual property.