Leucine, an essential amino acid found in foods like meat and legumes, has been discovered to directly enhance mitochondrial energy production by preventing the breakdown of key mitochondrial proteins. Credit: Shutterstock
Mitochondria are tiny structures inside cells that generate the energy required for the body to move, grow, and maintain health. Because energy needs change continuously, mitochondria must constantly fine-tune their activity to keep up. This adaptability depends in part on the nutrients available to the cell. Yet until recently, scientists did not fully understand how nutrients influence this process of energy adjustment.
A research group led by Professor Dr. Thorsten Hoppe at the University of Cologne's Institute for Genetics and the CECAD Cluster of Excellence on Aging Research has now identified a new biological pathway showing how the amino acid leucine strengthens mitochondrial performance.
