Dr. Łukasz Pietras, a member of the Cancer Neurophysiology Group at Łukasiewicz – PORT, has just defended his doctoral dissertation focused on the study of mitochondria – the structures responsible for energy production within cells. His research sheds new light on the role of the enzyme FBP2, which may be crucial not only for sugar metabolism but also for the proper functioning of mitochondria.
“Cell life is constant motion,” says Dr. Pietras. “It turns out that the form of the FBP2 enzyme affects how mitochondria move, what shape they take, and how they respond to stress,” he explains.
Until now, FBP2 was primarily known for its role in glucose metabolism. However, the young researcher’s work has shown that this enzyme may also regulate the structure and behavior of mitochondria — both in healthy and cancerous cells.
In healthy cells, the active form of the enzyme supported proper mitochondrial function — including their mobility, structure, and energy production capacity. In contrast, in cancer cells, the enzyme is nearly absent. “This discovery could become a starting point for developing new therapeutic strategies in cancer treatment,” emphasizes Dr. Pietras.
Most of Dr. Pietras’s research was conducted using cell lines. By applying advanced imaging techniques, the real-time movement of mitochondria could be observed. “A cell is like a soup, where everything is in motion, and mitochondria are its tiny power plants — they travel to where energy is most needed,” the scientist adds.
Dr. Pietras also highlights the importance of biobanking – the voluntary donation of biological samples for scientific research: “We need patient-derived material for our research to truly contribute to the development of new treatments. The biobank at Łukasiewicz – PORT supports the work of scientists, and its continued growth is crucial for us,” he stresses.
