Scientists Capture Mitochondrial Proteins in Action Like Never Before!

Imagine snapping a photo of kids playing instead of forcing them to pose—that’s the game-changing approach a Chinese-American research team used to capture the clearest-ever images of mitochondrial proteins in their natural environment!

Mitochondria, the \"powerhouses\" of our cells, rely on proteins to convert energy, regulate metabolism, and keep our bodies running. But previous methods required isolating these proteins, which scientists say is like asking a child to stand still for a photo—it doesn’t show their true behavior.

Led by Prof. Zhu Jiapeng (Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine) and Prof. Zhang Kai (Yale), the team achieved 0.18-nanometer resolution—enough to see individual atoms! Their breakthrough, published in Nature, lets researchers observe mitochondrial proteins in real time within living cells. This could revolutionize drug development for diseases linked to mitochondrial dysfunction.

\"It’s like catching kids mid-playground laughter,\" Zhu said. \"Now we can study how drugs interact with proteins in their natural state, speeding up treatments for heart disease and more.\"

This cross-border collab proves science knows no borders—and the world’s youth are here for it.

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Researchers obtain clearest mitochondrial protein images

cgtn.com