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How Mitochondria Get Their Membranes Bent
Mitochondria are the powerhouses of cells. Underneath their smooth surface they harbor an elaborately folded inner membrane. It holds a multitude of bottleneck like invaginations, which expand into elongated cavities (cristae). The narrow shape of the entrance or pore to the cristae ("crista junction") allows separation of the intracristal space and storage of molecules. Cytochrome c, for example, an important signaling protein in programmed cell death (apoptosis), is stored in this compartment. When apoptosis is triggered, the pores enlarge and cytochrome c is released into the cytosol. Thus, understanding of how the pore diameter and the shape of the inner membrane are regulated on a molecular basis is of great relevance to a better understanding of mitochondrial function in general. Recently, in cooperation with other research teams, the group of Prof. Andreas Reichert, who has been appointed as professor for Mitochondrial Biology to the Goethe University within the Cluster of Excellence Macromolecular Complexes in 2007, has identified two proteins linked in an antagonistic manner that are relevant for governing inner membrane structure.

Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy Holds 15th Annual Connect Conference In Atlanta
Patricia A. Furlong, Founding President and CEO of Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), the largest non-profit organization in the United States focused on finding a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne), announced that PPMD will be honoring United States Senator Johnny Isakson and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) with "Change It Champion" awards at the 2009 Connect Conference in Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday, June 27. Other award recipients include Darius Weems and Logan Smalley from the acclaimed documentary "Darius Goes West."
News of the day
GTx's Toremifene 80 Mg Increased Bone Mineral Density In Multiple Clinically Relevant Subpopulations Of Prostate Cancer Patients
GTx, Inc. (Nasdaq: GTXI) announced the presentation of data demonstrating that toremifene 80 mg treatment compared to placebo increased bone mineral density (BMD) in multiple clinically relevant subpopulations of men with prostate cancer on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). The data, an analysis of results of the recent Phase III clinical trial evaluating toremifene 80 mg for the prevention of bone fractures and treatment of other estrogen deficiency side effects of androgen deprivation therapy in men with prostate cancer, were presented yesterday at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Mental Health

Memory Impairment Predicts Alzheimer's Disease

Self perceived memory impairment is an indicator of pending Alzheimer dementia but not of vascular dementia, according to results of the LADIS (Leukoaraiosis and Disability) study which explores the impact of brain white matter changes on the functioning of independent elderly individuals over a 3 year period. The study is being presented at the current meeting of the European Neurological Society (ENS), a major meeting in European neurology that is gathering more than 2,900 experts from all over the world in Milan. "The LADIS study examines brain white matter changes and their influence on the intellectual and motor abilities of aging people," noted Professor Franz Fazekas (Department of Neurology, Medical University Graz, Austria), one of the leading LADIS researches. The study involved medical centres in eleven countries. The analysis being presented in Milan covered 639 persons and their subjective complaints of memory dysfunction. After three years, 90 patients had become demented. Of those, there were 34 cases classified as Alzheimer dementia with vascular component, 54 had vascular dementia and 2 frontotemporal dementia. Another 147 patients showed some cognitive impairment but not dementia. "Interestingly memory complaints showed quite different associations with dementia subtypes" stated Professor Fazekas. "Self-perceived memory impairment was a predictor of Alzheimer dementia with vascular component, independent of other risk factors, but not a predictor of vascular dementia." Abstract: ENS abstract O153: Verdelho et al, Self-perceived memory impairment predict Alzheimer"s disease but not vascular dementia in independent elderly with white matter changes. Results from the LADIS study. European Neurological Society


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