Researchers have discovered that mitochondrial DNA can be expelled into the cell's cytoplasm due to replication errors caused by a lack of DNA building blocks, leading to inflammation associated with aging. This process may contribute to age-related diseases, and understanding it could help develop therapies to improve health in later years.
Scientists have discovered a new, temporary organelle called the hemifusome inside human cells, which plays a crucial role in sorting and recycling cellular cargo. Using advanced cryo-electron tomography, researchers observed that hemifusomes are common across various cell types and may represent a new pathway for vesicle formation, independent of traditional endocytic mechanisms. This discovery could have significant implications for understanding and treating diseases related to cellular waste management, such as Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome.