Mitochondria 'Shorting Out'

[Wishful]

https://phys.org/news/2019-08-tiny-thermometer-mitochondria-cell-unleashing.html

The article is about a technique for measuring temperature in mitochondria, but the interesting thing from an ME perspective is the finding that mitochondria store energy in a 'proton battery' and this can get 'shorted out', releasing a burst of heat...and obviously depleting the stored energy. I don't know if this does apply to ME, but it does show yet more complexity that could be involved.

 

[wabi-sabi]

I think he's talking about the electron transport chain. This is a mechanism that pumps protons from the mitochondrial matrix to the inner membrane space- that's the jobs of complexes 1-4. Then the protons flow through ATP synthetase (or complex 5) and this is how most of the ATP gets generated. It's like water flowing from behind a dam through a turbine to generate electricity. The coolest part is that ATP synthetase really is shaped sort of like a turbine! When the protons can't flow through ATP synthetase that built up energy is expended in making heat rather than making ATP.

How it applies to us relates to this nice article on HealthRising: https://www.healthrising.org/blog/2019/07/18/cellular-equivalent-chronic-fatigue-mitochondria-found/

There's a nice picture and explanation of the electron transport chain in general here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_transport_chain

Incidentally, this is why I think the keto diet is so bad for me- uncoupling protein pokes a hole in the dam (inner mito membrane) so instead of protons flowing through the energy generating turbine (ATP synthetase) they flow out through the hole wasting all the energy.

 

[Learner1]

Incidentally, this is why I think the keto diet is so bad for me- uncoupling protein pokes a hole in the dam (inner mito membrane)

Can you provide a source for this, please?

 

[wabi-sabi]

@Learner1

Here's the wikipedia version describing uncoupling protein: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncoupling_protein

I think the connection with the keto diet came from a talk on youttube. I'll see if I can find it again.

I know these aren't really scholarly, but I'll work of finding better ones.

 

[Learner1]

Thanks.

Most of the literature I've seen says that keto diets are helpful for mitochondria. I think people need to base diet choices on factual information - there's a lot of propaganda out there...

 

[wabi-sabi]

Here's something that's actually scholarly:
The Biology of Mitochondrial Uncoupling Proteins
Sophie Rousset, Marie-Clotilde Alves-Guerra, Julien Mozo, Bruno Miroux, Anne-Marie Cassard-Doulcier, Frédéric Bouillaud, Daniel Ricquier
Diabetes Feb 2004, 53 (suppl 1) S130-S135; DOI: 10.2337/diabetes.53.2007.S130

The part I was trying to explain is this quote "In these cells, UCP1 acts as a proton carrier activated by free fatty acids and creates a shunt between complexes of the respiratory chain and ATP synthase. Activation of UCP1 enhances respiration, and the uncoupling process results in a futile cycle and dissipation of oxidation energy as heat. "

Of course, I didn't realize that there's not just one uncoupling protein. There's at least 4 and I need to figure out what the others do! The part to note here, is that while uncoupling protein 1 increases respiration, it doesn't increase ATP synthesis. So that's something to consider in whether ketosis is helping the mitos or not. Sounds to me like they are working harder and producing less.

 

[Wishful]

Most of the literature I've seen says that keto diets are helpful for mitochondria.

Most of the literature is probably about mitochondria in non-ME people. Whether the various findings apply to PWME is unknown.