A research team from the Institute of Organic Chemistry at the Technical University of Lodz (PŁ), led by Dr Grażyna Leszczyńska, has received funding from the National Science Centre in the amount of PLN 1,783,934 from the OPUS 22 programme for the realisation of the project: “Synthesis and structural/biophysical studies of model mRNA/mt-tRNA oligomers to determine the role of modified nucleosides (m5C, hm5C, f5C, ca5C, m1G) in translation and human diseases”.

The researchers are looking to find out how defective nucleosides alter the structure and properties of mitochondrial tRNAs. This will make it possible to discover new treatments for humans in the future, while understanding the mechanisms of metabolic modification in cancer cells will prove important for inhibiting carcinogenesis.

The appearance of pathogenic nucleosides in mitochondrial RNA molecules can cause severe dysfunction of mitochondria, which are the energy centres of our cells. Their damage gives rise to symptoms of hypertension, type 2 diabetes and Leber hereditary neuropathy of the optic nerve (LHON).