Body of Art - Sanford Burnham Prebys
Institute News

Body of Art

AuthorScott LaFee
Date

August 29, 2024

Mitochondria

Mitochondria are often called the “powerhouses of the cell.” They are responsible for most of the chemical energy that comes from breaking down carbohydrates and fatty acids. They produce 90% of the energy our bodies need to function, and also contain their own small chromosomes.

Given their fundamental importance, mitochondrial dysfunction is linked to diseases that affect almost every part of the body. Among them is the emperor of all maladies, cancer, in which tumors manipulate their mitochondria to boost survival and promote metastasis.

At Sanford Burnham Prebys, Kevin Tharp, PhD, is studying the interplay between mitochondrial metabolism and the physical properties of the tumor microenvironment, with a goal of identifying druggable mechanisms to undermine cancer’s malignant creativity. 

Meanwhile, Rolf Bodmer, PhD, Alexandre R. Colas, PhDGeorg Vogler, PhD, and others at Sanford Burnham Prebys are investigating the role of mitochondrial genes in hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a birth defect that accounts for 2-4% of congenital heart defects in the U.S., roughly 1,000 to 2,000 births per year. 

About the art: Odra Noel is a medical doctor and PhD in basic science, with additional degrees in aesthetics and music. Her silk paintings focus primarily on human biology, often informed by microscopy. Wellcome Collection.