CEROX-miRNA Control of Mitochondrial OXPHOS Activities in Health and Disease.

Every cell in the body relies on tiny power plants called mitochondria to generate energy, and this project aims to control that energy output by manipulating specific RNA molecules that act as genetic dimmer switches. Mitochondrial dysfunction is linked to a wide range of human diseases, from rare genetic disorders to common conditions like diabetes and neurodegeneration. Researchers know that certain long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) form competing networks—called CEROX networks—that regulate mitochondrial activity. But it remains unclear exactly which RNAs are involved, how these networks differ between tissues, and whether they can be deliberately tweaked to boost or reduce energy production. This project will map these RNA networks across different cell types, then test whether disrupting them can alter mitochondrial enzyme activity in living cells and animal models. If successful, it could open a new route for treating diseases where mitochondria are underperforming—by using drugs that inhibit a specific microRNA or boost a particular lncRNA to restore energy levels in only the affected tissue, avoiding side effects elsewhere. This is fundamental science: it asks how cells naturally control their energy supply. While no immediate medical application exists, understanding these RNA control circuits could eventually lead to therapies for conditions as varied as muscle wasting, heart failure, and metabolic disorders.