echemi logo
Product
  • Product
  • Supplier
  • Inquiry
    Home > What is mitochondrial aging theory?

    What is mitochondrial aging theory?

    • Last Update: 2020-04-03
    • Source: Internet
    • Author: User
    Search more information of high quality chemicals, good prices and reliable suppliers, visit www.echemi.com
    Aging or aging is an integral part of human life Gerontology focuses on the research of aging process and aging effect, and one branch of gerontology is to seek the understanding of the biological process of aging At present, there are many aging theories, and most of them consider the role of mitochondria as a micro cell structure This structure is helpful to many cell functions, and cell division, cell signaling and cell death will be interfered with, which will induce aging Perhaps the most famous theory of mitochondrial aging focuses on the effect of free radicals, unstable oxygen molecules, on mitochondrial structure Mitochondria can be regarded as the energy factory of cells Every human cell has dozens to thousands of such factories Each small mitochondrial produces energy to drive different processes from breathing to walking They generate energy by breaking down food molecules into electrons, which are then stored in ATP energy packs Compared with other cell parts, mitochondrial structure has different types of DNA Mitochondrial DNA, also known as mitochondrial DNA, has a different level of protection than traditional DNA Enzymes and histones are responsible for protecting DNA from any significant damage, but MDNA lacks these substances Therefore, when mitochondria are damaged, it will also affect the energy process and human related functions Therefore, cell degeneration has become one of the important aspects of mitochondrial aging theory A branch closely related to the theory of cell mitochondrial aging is the theory of free radicals Most molecules in the body operate in a stable and predictable way, but there will still be instability, especially oxygen molecules in the body When oxygen molecules lose order, they become free radicals These chaotic particles can cause serious damage to vulnerable areas and can survive in the mitochondrial region, because each mitochondria breathes for the cell Due to the lack of protection, mitochondrial DNA is vulnerable to free radical attack In addition to energy production, mitochondria have other important functions, and each function has been included in the study of mitochondrial aging theory For example, this substance is an important cornerstone of cell division (one cell divides into many new cells) This process helps replace old cells, so when cell division slows down or stops, the effect of old cell proliferation can be felt inside and outside the body Dysfunction of mitochondria will greatly affect the ability of cell division It should be noted that these structures also have a significant impact on programmed cell death (the process of cell self destruction) The processes that promote suicide include DNA fragmentation, cell membrane mutations, and nuclear breakdown and contraction If, as many researchers believe, programmed cell death is manifested through aging, the role of mitochondria in promoting programmed cell death will also be added to the study of mitochondrial aging theory The ability of cells to communicate with each other is largely due to mitochondria Mitochondria help cells send signals related to balance, tissue repair and other processes The continuous damage of mitochondria will lead to the error of information transmission The researchers focused on the theory that mitochondrial errors cause many diseases Aging theorists also blame faulty cell signals on the aging process Many factors affect the health and function of mitochondria As mentioned earlier, free radical theory provides one of the explanations for defective mitochondria Cell mutations can cause similar damage, and these mutations can be caused by diet, genetic or occasional factors This damage sometimes results from natural wear Because most skin cells have only one mitochondrion in their whole life cycle, they are the most vulnerable sites to see the effects of aging The research on the theory of mitochondrial aging has brought many therapeutic methods For example, vitamin B complex vitamins are believed to slow down and correct some enzyme defects caused by mitochondrial damage In addition, when these processes are blocked, lipoic acid and acetyl-L-carnitine will redirect brain energy production activities to mitochondria.
    This article is an English version of an article which is originally in the Chinese language on echemi.com and is provided for information purposes only. This website makes no representation or warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness ownership or reliability of the article or any translations thereof. If you have any concerns or complaints relating to the article, please send an email, providing a detailed description of the concern or complaint, to service@echemi.com. A staff member will contact you within 5 working days. Once verified, infringing content will be removed immediately.

    Contact Us

    The source of this page with content of products and services is from Internet, which doesn't represent ECHEMI's opinion. If you have any queries, please write to service@echemi.com. It will be replied within 5 days.

    Moreover, if you find any instances of plagiarism from the page, please send email to service@echemi.com with relevant evidence.