"Breakthrough Compound Halts Mitochondrial Free Radical Generation"

Researchers at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and Calico Labs have developed a compound, S1QEL1.719, that selectively blocks the production of free radicals in mitochondria, the powerhouses of our cells. By inhibiting free radical production at a specific site in mitochondrial complex I, the compound prevents and treats metabolic syndrome in mice, including reversing insulin dependence. This breakthrough could potentially lead to disease-treating and anti-aging interventions by targeting the production of free radicals, which are implicated in chronic diseases of aging. The compound acts as a cork, plugging the site without hindering the mitochondria's critical function of energy metabolism.