A yeast enzyme helps human cells overcome mitochondrial defects

• Nucleotide synthesis-the production of the basic components of DNA and RNA-is essential for cell growth and division. • In most animal cells, this process depends closely on properly functioning mitochondria, the organelles responsible for respiration and energy production. • When mitochondrial respiration fails-a common feature of mitochondrial diseases and several forms of cancer-cells lose the ability to proliferate normally. • A new study published in Nature Metabolism now shows that this dependence is not irreversible.

Article Summaries:

• Nucleotide synthesis-the production of the basic components of DNA and RNA-is essential for cell growth and division. In most animal cells, this process depends closely on properly functioning mitochondria, the organelles responsible for respiration and energy production. When mitochondrial respiration fails-a common feature of mitochondrial diseases and several forms of cancer-cells lose the ability to proliferate normally. A new study published in Nature Metabolism now shows that this dependence is not irreversible.

Sources:

• https://phys.org/news/2026-02-yeast-enzyme-human-cells-mitochondrial.html