Aberrant endoplasmic reticulum dynamics as a driver of age-onset dysfunction
For many cellular organelles, their structure plays an important part in determining how they function. During aging, however, aberrant structures of organelles such as the mitochondria, tend to occur in conjunction with various age-onset diseases, suggesting that these structural changes play roles in disease pathophysiology. A major goal of the Burkewitz lab is to understand how these altered structures arise and how they impact the ability of cells to function properly. Based on our increasing understanding that mitochondrial structure is inter-connected and even regulated by other organelles, including the endoplasmic reticulum, Dr. Burkewitz is working to establish a more comprehensive picture of how the inner architecture of cells changes through the aging process. With a better understanding of how organelles are structurally and functionally linked to one another, we can intervene therapeutically to protect cellular integrity in aged animals.
