Mitochondria, Metabolic Disease and Aging Lab

Mitochondria are the main centers of energy production in the cell, but they are also considered as integrator hubs connecting different cellular signals to the generation of an appropriate response to maintain cell homeostasis. Therefore, the regulation of mitochondrial function is complex and still not fully understood. It involves rapid adaptations to changing metabolic conditions (metabolic plasticity), changes in morphology by fusion and fission (mitochondrial dynamics), and changes in mass and quality (mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondrial degradation by mitophagy). The coordinated action of all these mechanisms is crucial for the maintenance of mitochondrial fitness and health. The major goal of our laboratory is the study of mitochondrial signaling pathways controlling mitochondrial fitness and how their alteration leads to loss of tissue homeostasis and the development of age-related diseases. To do this we employ in vitro cell cultured models, in vivo genetically-modified mouse models and human samples.