Bacterial muropeptides enhance mitochondrial functions and reduce oxidative stress in mammals. They promote oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), improve mitochondrial structure, and support intestinal health. This suggests a potential therapeutic avenue for treating mitochondrial diseases by using muropeptides to stabilise and enhance ATP synthase activity.
April 2024 – Cell Reports
Key takeaways
- Bacterial muropeptides enhance mitochondrial function and reduce oxidative stress: Muropeptides, derived from bacterial peptidoglycan, accumulate in mitochondria and boost their functions by increasing oxidative respiration and ATP production. This reduction in oxidative stress supports cellular health and longevity by mitigating damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS)
- Muropeptides promote oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and improve mitochondrial structure: These compounds help recover mitochondrial structure and enhance the activity of ATP synthase, a critical enzyme in OXPHOS. This improvement in mitochondrial efficiency leads to better energy production and overall cellular health, which are essential for longevity
- Muropeptides support small intestinal health and nutrient absorption: In mice, muropeptides accumulate in the small intestinal epithelial cells, promoting homeostasis and nutrient uptake. This benefit to the gut can have a ripple effect on overall health, as a healthy gut is crucial for proper nutrient absorption and metabolic functions
- Muropeptides offer potential therapeutic benefits for mitochondrial diseases by stabilising and enhancing ATP synthase activity: By binding to and stabilising the ATP synthase complex, muropeptides increase its activity, offering a promising approach to treat mitochondrial dysfunctions. This stabilisation can help restore normal cellular functions in conditions like Leigh syndrome, a severe mitochondrial disease, potentially extending lifespan and improving quality of life
Read the article at: Tian, Dong, et al. “Bacterial Muropeptides Promote OXPHOS and Suppress Mitochondrial Stress in Mammals.” Cell Reports, vol. 43, no. 114067, 23 Apr. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114067.