Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Mitochondrial DNA Depletion

[Annikki]

Thought I'd share part of the lipopolysaccharide entry in Wikipedia:

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS), also known as lipoglycans, are large molecules consisting of a lipid and a polysaccharide joined by a covalent bond; they are found in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, act as endotoxins and elicit strong immune responses in animals.

Autoimmune responses too, maybe?

Here's one possible way lipopolysaccharides may get introduced:

Distribution and Composition of Lipopolysaccharides from Mycoplasmas.
P F Smith, T A Langworthy, and W R Mayberry
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC236167/

Polymeric carbohydrates containing glycerol and fatty acids were isolated from whole cells and membranes of mycoplasmas by hot aqueous phenol extraction and gel filtration. Lipopolysaccharides were found to occur in four species of Acholeplasma, two of Anaeroplasma, and in Mycoplasma neurolyticum. None were detected in Spiroplasma citri or in five species of Mycoplasma. All lipopolysaccharides contained both neutral and N-acylated amino sugars in ratios varying from 1:1 to 3:1. The neutral sugars found in varying distribution were glucose, galactose, and mannose. The amino sugars included fucosamine, an unidentified deoxyhexosamine, galactosamine, and glucosamine. Fucosamine and glucose were the only sugars common to all lipopolysaccharides. The fatty acids were similar to those found in the lipids of each organism.

 

[rosie26]

@Waverunner could you keep an eye out for any research on Bacterial Lipopolysaccharide. I don't know good research from not so good. Many thanks.

 

[Violeta]

Yes, the genes probably have an influence on how much our mitochondria get compromised. The most important question however seems to be what causes the LPS in our blood. Bacteria probably but why do we have these bacteria and why do they or a our immune system malfunction? Antibiotics are no solution, they can make things a lot better but the bacteria return sooner or later so what makes them grow so good?

Does Myhill not address your questions? Those are very good questions.