In a remarkable discovery, scientists show
that blocking the action of a key enzyme in mitochondria stops stem cells from
developing into egg cells in fruit flies.
Mitochondria - tiny digestive systems found inside nearly every
cell of the body - are traditionally known for their vital role in
generating energy for cells to function.
In the new study, published in Nature Cell Biology, a team led by
researchers from NYU Langone Medical Center, NY, shows that mitochondria's role
in the development of stem cells is
entirely distinct from that of producing energy for cell metabolism.
In their traditional role, mitochondria provide cells with units
of energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The chemical reaction
that produces ATP relies on an important enzyme called ATP synthase enzyme.
The new research shows that ATP
synthase is also important for normal stem cell development. The enzyme
directly controls the growth and maintenance of "cristae" - the
wrinkled, folded membranes inside mitochondria - as the stem cells divide and
form the specific cell components of the female germ cell or egg.