Spotlight on cellular power plants
Many neurological disorders are associated with dysfunctions in cellular power plants, the mitochondria. Angelika Harbauer and her team at the MPI for Biological Intelligence (in foundation) study mitochondria in nerve cells to better understand the development of disease and the mode of action of pharmaceuticals. Among other things, the scientists want to know how cellular communication pathways influence the production and function of mitochondria. This research will now be supported by a Starting Grant from the European Research Council (ERC) of € 1.5 million for the next five years.
Mitochondria are part of the "critical infrastructure" of our cells – they provide most of the energy our cells need to function. In neurons, mitochondria are particularly busy, since the transmission of information along the cells' long projections requires a lot of energy. Consequently, mitochondrial dysfunction can lead to a number of neurological disorders. These include neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, and neuropsychiatric diseases such as bipolar disorders.