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0:00
Hi everyone. My name is Laura
Greaves, and I work within
the Mitochondrial Research
Group which is in
the Biosciences Institute
at Newcastle University.
Today, I'm going to
talk to you about
Mitochondrial DNA
Mutations in Cancer.
0:14
Just a brief outline
of the lecture.
I'm going to start by giving
you a fairly brief overview
on mitochondrial function
and mitochondrial genetics.
Then, I'm going to
talk through some of
the research efforts of
the past which have
looked at the frequency,
the prevalence, and
the spectrum of
mitochondrial DNA mutations in
human cancers and
talk through some of
the technology used to try and
understand their
functional significance.
Then, I'm going to focus
on two more recent studies
which have taken
new approaches to
actually, try and determine
the mechanistic significance of
mitochondrial DNA
mutations of cancer.
The first is in early-stage
intestinal cancer
and the second in more
advanced malignant melanoma.
0:52
Just to start off
with a little bit
about mitochondrial structure.
So, mitochondria are
essential intracellular
organelles, which are present in
most eukaryotic cells, and they
perform a number of crucial
cellular functions.
Structurally they're double
membrane organelles.
The outer membrane is completely
surrounds the mitochondria and
the inner membrane which
encapsulates the
mitochondrial matrix.
The inner membrane is highly
folded and this leads
to the formation of
structures known as cristae.
It's on these cristae
where the process
of oxidative
phosphorylation occurs.
Mitochondria are actually not
these general
bean-shaped entities,
but they are dynamic organelles
which are constantly fusing
and dividing and
they actually form
a reticular network
within the cell.
1:34
Mitochondria are known as
the powerhouses of the cell
and this is because
they have a key role in
the production of ATP through
oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS).
However, alongside
that major role,
they have a role in apoptosis,
cell signaling, cell growth,
and differentiation.
So, they have a major effect on
the overall function
of the cell.
