Rust in Your Mitochondria
From ScienceDaily: "A restricted-calorie diet, when started in early adulthood, seems to stymie a mitochondrial mishap that may contribute to muscle loss in aging adults ... scientists found pockets of excess iron in muscle cell mitochondria, the tiny power plants found in every cell. The excess iron affects the chemistry inside the mitochondria, sparking the formation of harmful free radicals that can lead a mitochondrion straight to the emergency exit ... Researchers don't know exactly what causes iron to accumulate in mitochondria in aging animals, but a breakdown in how iron is transported through cells could be one reason why. ... If the mitochondria become unhappy or are ready to kick the bucket, they have proteins in the inner and outer membranes that they can open up and commit suicide. ... suicidal mitochondria can damage the rest of the muscle cell, leading to cell death and perhaps to muscle wasting."
Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080916215209.htm