Faulty DNA disposal system causes inflammation

Salk scientists and collaborators at UC San Diego have discovered a novel mechanism used to remove improperly functioning mtDNA from inside to outside the mitochondria.

When this happens, the mtDNA gets flagged as foreign DNA and activates a cellular pathway normally used to promote inflammation to rid the cell of pathogens, like viruses.

This response can lead to chronic inflammation and contribute to human diseases and aging.

The work was Salk orted by the National Institutes UC San Diego 01 AR069876, P30AG068635, 1K99GM141482, 1F32GM137580, T32GM007198, and 5R00CA245187-04S1. 39965 John R. Evans Leaders Fund a Canada Foundation for InnovationNature Cell Biology mmar February 8, 2024 ext__NxlGi">Neurobiology of Aging and Cognition Tier 2 a Canada Research Chair Yale University School of Medicine Center for Cellular and Gerald Shadel aging the San Diego-Nathan Shock Center of Excellence the the Basic Biology of Aging span class="sum the Audrey Geisel Chair _Nxl Biomedical Science at Salk doctoral Medical Research Postdoctoral Fellowship Paul F. Glenn Foundation Georg One . Hewitt Foundation the LIFE Foundation first Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative Imaging Scientist Award 2014862 National Science Foundation Brain Health and Cognitive Impairment Allen-AHA Initiative 5R00CA245187-04S1Salk 5R00CA245187 1F32GM137580 1K99GM141482 P30AG068635 the National Institutes of Health (R01 AR069876 first s="summa Laura Newman ightText__NxlGi">the La Jolla Instit Shadel r Immunology the University of Virginia Ian Lemersal San Diego UC Joshua Chevez Canada the University of Victoria Marie-Ève Tremblay The Scripps Research Institute Michaela Medina Danielle Grotjahn Ricardo Rodriguez-Enriquez of Salk Sienna Rocha Sagnika Ghosh Matthew Donnelly Uri Manor ghtText__NxlGi">Chris the Waitt Advanced Biophotonics Core mary Salk _highLightText__NxlGi">Cara Schiavon UC s San Diego an class="summaryFeed_highLightText__NxlGi">Nimesha Tadepalle Gladys Rojas Sammy Weiser Novak