
Mitochondrial Metabolism
Deshwal LabWe study how mitochondrial metabolic plasticity regulates cellular stress responses, focusing on lipid metabolism and ferroptosis, with implications for neurodegeneration and mitochondrial diseases.
We study how mitochondrial metabolic plasticity regulates cellular stress responses, focusing on lipid metabolism and ferroptosis, with implications for neurodegeneration and mitochondrial diseases.
About our Research
Our research aims to understand how mitochondria exploit their metabolic plasticity to determine whether a cell survives or succumbs to stress.
Mitochondria are highly adaptable organelles, capable of reprogramming bioenergetic and biosynthetic pathways to meet the demands of a changing environment. This metabolic flexibility allows them to adjust to various stress conditions, regulate redox balance, and coordinate with other organelles to influence cellular outcomes. A key aspect of our work is investigating how mitochondria use this plasticity to regulate processes like ferroptosis—a form of iron-dependent, lipid peroxidation-driven cell death. By elucidating these mechanisms, we aim to uncover how mitochondrial metabolism can be harnessed to either promote cellular resilience or drive cell death, with implications for diseases like neurodegeneration and mitochondrial disorders.