Today, scientists have unveiled a new mechanism of intracellular mitofusin, a protein associated with mitochondrial fusion and repair. This newly discovered mechanism could lead to new treatments for a variety of diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. The findings, which were published in the journal Nature Communications, could also open up new avenues of research into mitochondrial diseases. The research team, led by Dr. Lina Ojeda-Saguar of the University of Valencia, used various techniques to elucidate this mechanism and demonstrate how it could be used therapeutically. The team found that mitofusin is involved in the formation of networks of mitochondria, which are essential for maintaining the health of cells. By manipulating the levels of mitofusin, they were able to induce mitochondrial fusion and repair, suggesting that this could be a potential target for therapies. The team is now exploring the potential of this new mechanism to treat a wide range of diseases.

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source: Phys.org