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Bacterial Enzyme Boosts Energy The LplA enzyme from Escherichia coli was introduced into the mitochondria of worms and male mice. In 20-month-old mice, energy expenditure increased, and functional tests showed improved results in rotarod performance, grip strength, and glucose tolerance. The LplA enzyme attaches lipoic acid to proteins, a chemical marker necessary for three enzyme complexes in mitochondria. To enable the enzyme to work near these targets, the authors added a mitochondrial delivery signal to it. Previous research found that mitochondrial lipoic acid attachment decreases with age in brown fat tissue of old mice, along with reduced fuel oxidation. The new study checks if changes in this chemical marker translate to whole-organism functions. First, the authors traced the effects of LplA in worms, where it increased lipoic acid attachment, complex activity, mitochondrial respiration, and carbon flux from labeled glucose. Then, they used RNAi to temporarily suppress the genes of the three targets, one at a time, and found that LplA no longer increased respiration and mitochondrial membrane potential. When LplA was introduced into adult worms on day 6 of life, by day 11, they moved faster and withstood heat and oxidative stress better, although lifespan did not change. Male mice were given an adenovirus carrying the genetic instructions for LplA at 4, 10, or 18 months and examined two months later, as reported in Science Advances, August 19. 🔗 Read original →