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Catalina Vasilescu, PhD

@cvasilescu.bsky.social
975 followers 600 following 401 posts

Biomedical researcher studying mitochondrial disorders. PhD from Anu Suomalainen lab, Helsinki. Postdoc at Prokisch lab, Munich.

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Catalina Vasilescu, PhD @cvasilescu.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Thanks to @mitoworld.bsky.social for continuous support of mitochondrial collections! 🍀
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www.MitoWorld.org @mitoworld.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
We love the new format & visuals for @cvasilescu.bsky.social @biomednews.bsky.social list! Not to mention the content. Check out this week's highlights on #mitochondrialdiseases , new therapeutic opportunities for #POLG disease & the "week at a glance" feature: #mitoscientists #UMDF #mitochondria
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Korolchuk Lab @korolchuklab.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
#Autophagy and #mTOR papers from last week in the list below. As always lots of interesting science to be read and enjoyed hot off the press! biomed.news/bims-auttor/...
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Anime Girl Reading Manga in Bed
ALT: Anime Girl Reading Manga in Bed
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asofiahcosta.bsky.social @asofiahcosta.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
A double dose of bims-metlip this week: 42 new papers on analytical methods for #metabolomics and #lipidomics. Full editions: biomed.news/bims-metlip/... biomed.news/bims-metlip/... Curated for @biomednews.bsky.social.
static.klipy.com
Cute Penguin Reading in Bed, Getting Tired
ALT: Cute Penguin Reading in Bed, Getting Tired
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EOS Commons @eoscommons.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Two already approved drugs, diltiazem and sulbactam, breaking up a mitochondrial protein aggregate and restoring mtDNA replication in a knock-in mouse. Repurposing is the shortest path from mechanism to clinic, though this is still one mutation in one model. Worth following.
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Catalina Vasilescu, PhD @cvasilescu.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
BiomedNews MitDis: the Week at a Glance
Mitochondria in Health and Disease: Week at a Glance.
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Catalina Vasilescu, PhD @cvasilescu.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Crowded epithelia switch from fluid-like motion to a jammed state, preceded by a rise in mitochondrial pyruvate anaplerosis. Limiting mitochondrial pyruvate import kept cells motile and delayed jamming, via RhoA-myosin II and macropinocytosis.
Cell jamming transition is regulated by mitochondrial pyruvate transport and endocytosis.
Crowded epithelia switch from fluid-like motion to a jammed state, preceded by a rise in mitochondrial pyruvate anaplerosis. Limiting mitochondrial pyruvate import kept cells motile and delayed jamming, via RhoA-myosin II and macropinocytosis.
Bermudez et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A · doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2617216123
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Catalina Vasilescu, PhD @cvasilescu.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
PEO-linked POLGA mutants are hyperubiquitylated by MITOL and aggregate instead of entering mitochondria. Two approved drugs, diltiazem hydrochloride and sulbactam, disrupt the aggregates, restore mtDNA replication and improve motor performance in a knock-in mouse.
Small molecules rescue pathogenic POLGA aggregation and restore its functions in a mouse model of PEO.
PEO-linked POLGA mutants are hyperubiquitylated by MITOL and aggregate instead of entering mitochondria. Two approved drugs, diltiazem hydrochloride and sulbactam, disrupt the aggregates, restore mtDNA replication and improve motor performance in a knock-in mouse.
Mohammed et al., EMBO Mol Med · doi.org/10.1038/s44321-026-00532-3
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Catalina Vasilescu, PhD @cvasilescu.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
The Golgi helps mito fusion. Trans-Golgi vesicles rich in PI(3,4)P2 are recruited to mito fusion sites marked by ER and mitofusin. Without the class II PI3-kinases that make this lipid (PI3K-C2α and β), fusion stalls and mitos fragment, and mice lacking both in cardiomyocytes develop heart failure.
Golgi-derived vesicles containing PI(3,4)P2 drive mitochondrial fusion.
Mitochondrial fusion gets help from the Golgi. Trans-Golgi vesicles rich in PI(3,4)P2 are recruited to mitochondrial fusion sites marked by ER and mitofusin. Without the class II PI3-kinases that make this lipid (PI3K-C2α and β), fusion stalls and mitochondria fragment, and mice lacking both in cardiomyocytes develop heart failure.
Aki et al., Science · doi.org/10.1126/science.adx9628
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Catalina Vasilescu, PhD @cvasilescu.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Hello darlings, and happy Sunday! I am back with a new @biomednews.bsky.social edition of Mitochondria in Health and Disease! A few below, many more inside! 👇 Full edition online: biomed.news/bims-mitdis/... Thanks to @gavinmcstay.bsky.social, @mitoscientist.bsky.social, @mitoworld.bsky.social!
BiomedNews MitDis edition 111026!
Thanks to @gavinmcstay.bsky.social, 
@mitoscientist.bsky.social, 
@mitoworld.bsky.social, and all mito-friends
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Eric Chevet @ericchevet.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Good Morning! This week's selection of articles and #preprints on #proteostasis thanks to @biomednews.bsky.social -- biomed.news/bims-proteo/... Highlight: Decline of chaperone-mediated autophagy in aging impairs macrophage clearance of senescent cells www.nature.com/articles/s43...
biomed.news
bims-proteo 2026-10-11 papers
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Gabriele Zaffagnini @gzaffagnini.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Happy Sunday with #cebooc! Today an encyclopedia of all the cell types in the mammalian female reproductive system: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42853913/ Eggcellent resource! 👏🏼 More exciting papers: biomed.news/bims-cebooc/... Subscribe: biomed.news/bims-cebooc Powered by @biomednews.bsky.social
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Robert Arkowitz @robertarkowitz.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
science.org
Golgi-derived vesicles containing PI(3,4)P2 drive mitochondrial fusion
Mitochondria are dynamic organelles that remodel their shape to regulate cell fate. Mitochondrial division involves interactions with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), lysosomes, and trans-Golgi network...
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Cell Reports @cp-cellreports.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Mitochondrial Fis1 tunes Rab7A activity via TBC1D15 modulating STING degradation
dlvr.it
Mitochondrial Fis1 tunes Rab7A activity via TBC1D15 modulating STING degradation
Dominguez-Martin et al. reveal a link between mitochondria and STING degradation. Fis1 recruits the Rab-GAP TBC1D15 to the mitochondria increasing its affinity for Rab7A. Upon STING activation, TBC1D15 translocates to the Golgi. The absence of the Fis1-TBC1D15 axis hampers STING late-stage trafficking and degradation.
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Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy @sigtrans-sttt.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
#Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes significantly to human disease pathogenesis. This review connects #proteostasis, biogenesis, mitochondrial dynamics, and mitophagy with disease mechanisms and emerging therapeutic strategies. @ub.edu #STTT #OpenAccess: doi.org/10.1038/s413...
Mitochondrial quality control in health and disease: mechanisms and therapeutic targets
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Eric Chevet @ericchevet.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Good morning! This week's selection of articles and #preprints on #proteostasis thanks to @biomednews.bsky.social -- biomed.news/bims-proteo/... Highlight: A redox switch on CDC48 regulates peroxisomal function via controlling peroxisome-associated protein degradation www.nature.com/articles/s41...
biomed.news
bims-proteo 2026-10-04 papers
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Biomed News @biomednews.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Here are the latest issues of our #biomedical research literature reports on topics including #cancer #diabetes #ECM #brain #muscle #mitochondria
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www.MitoWorld.org @mitoworld.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Another masterpiece from Christian Frezza to kick off the week! Explore the new #mitochondria #mitocancer @biomednews.bsky.social list: lnkd.in/p/gx8-8__T biomed.news/bims-camemi/... #mitoscientists
lnkd.in
#cancermetabolism #mitochondrialbiology #keepreading | Christian Frezza
Good Sunday, all! A wonderful summary of papers in #cancermetabolism and #mitochondrialbiology is out. Don't miss it! https://lnkd.in/e__jSvjE Biomed News mitoworld.org #keepreading "How often in li...
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Catalina Vasilescu, PhD @cvasilescu.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
As always, very thankful to @mitoworld.bsky.social for contributing to mitochondrial medicine communication! 🤍🌸
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www.MitoWorld.org @mitoworld.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
#Mitochondria & #aging #neurodegenerativedisease #kidneydisease & much more #mitochondrialdisease insights from @cvasilescu.bsky.social in this week's @biomednews.bsky.social curation. Check it out! #mitoscientists #UMDF #mtDNA #mitochondrialtransplantation
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asofiahcosta.bsky.social @asofiahcosta.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
This week's issue of bims-metlip is here biomed.news/bims-metlip/.... It covers a wide array of computational and analytical methods for small molecule and lipid analysis. A collaboration with @biomednews.bsky.social. Enjoy!
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Study Freak in the Library
ALT: Study Freak in the Library
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Catalina Vasilescu, PhD @cvasilescu.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
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Catalina Vasilescu, PhD @cvasilescu.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
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Catalina Vasilescu, PhD @cvasilescu.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
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Catalina Vasilescu, PhD @cvasilescu.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Happy Sunday with a new edition of Mitochondria in Health and Disease! Full edition online: biomed.news/bims-mitdis/... See below for highlights 👇 @biomednews.bsky.social @gavinmcstay.bsky.social @mitoscientist.bsky.social @mitoscientists.bsky.social @mito-news.bsky.social @mitoworld.bsky.social
Mitochondria in Health and Disease Issue 27 Sept 2026
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www.MitoWorld.org @mitoworld.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
🔬 Wrapping up the last week of #MitoMonth we take a critical look at #mitochondria in patients w #mitochondrialdisease. @martinpicardenergy.bsky.social features these intriguing images of their strange shapes & structures with profound impacts on function. lnkd.in/p/gUf3madq #mitoscientists #UMDF
lnkd.in
Most of our cells contain mitochondria and rely on them for signaling, information processing, energy transformation, and other essential functions. So when a genetic mutation affects mitochondria,…...
Most of our cells contain mitochondria and rely on them for signaling, information processing, energy transformation, and other essential functions. So when a genetic mutation affects mitochondria, ...
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Catalina Vasilescu, PhD @cvasilescu.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Thank you @mitoworld.bsky.social for support our collection!
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www.MitoWorld.org @mitoworld.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
#Mitoscientists check out all things #mitochondria in health and disease in this week's highlights from @cvasilescu.bsky.social @biomednews.bsky.social - including #mtDNA diagnostics, targeted therapies for #mitochondrialdisease and more! #neurologicaldisease #mitoneuro #mitocardio #mitometabolism
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Catalina Vasilescu, PhD @cvasilescu.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
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Catalina Vasilescu, PhD @cvasilescu.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
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Catalina Vasilescu, PhD @cvasilescu.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
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Catalina Vasilescu, PhD @cvasilescu.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Celebrating Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week with a new format for our @biomednews.bsky.social selection of papers on #Mitochondria in #Health and #Disease! 💚 biomed.news/bims-mitdis/... @gavinmcstay.bsky.social @mitoscientist.bsky.social @mitoscientists.bsky.social @mitoworld.bsky.social
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Tisento Therapeutics @tisentotx.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
#PuttingMitoOnTheMap starts with people – speaking up, sharing info, elevating patient voices. We’re proud to support the advocacy groups across the globe who are working tirelessly to ensure mito is recognized. #WorldMitoWeek2026 #MitochondrialDisease #Biosky
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Catalina Vasilescu, PhD @cvasilescu.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Thank you @mitoworld.bsky.social for highlighting our selection! 🤍💕
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www.MitoWorld.org @mitoworld.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
This week's highlights from @cvasilescu.bsky.social @biomednews.bsky.social include: 💥 #Mitochondria in #Neurobiology: Cellular Vulnerability to Therapeutic Opportunity 💥ND6 Restores #Vision in #MitochondrialDisease 💥Mitochondrial #Proteostasis Links #Diabetes & #Sarcopenia #UMDF #mitoscientists
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asofiahcosta.bsky.social @asofiahcosta.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
The latest issue of bims-metlip is here biomed.news/bims-metlip/.... Brought to you in collaboration with @biomednews.bsky.social. Enjoy!
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Breaking News
ALT: Breaking News
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Reposted by Catalina Vasilescu, PhD
www.MitoWorld.org @mitoworld.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
How do cells decide whether to store energy as fat or mobilize it? #Mitochondria play a pivotal role! Learn more from Dr. Shirihai on his @embojournal.org paper on the Mitoblog: mitoworld.org/a-calcium-sw... #UMDF #mitoscientists #Brownadiposetissue #adiposetissue #mitochondrialmetabolism
mitoworld.org
A Calcium Switch for Fat: How Mitochondria Balance Lipid Storage and Utilization - MitoWorld
Cells face a continual metabolic decision: should fatty acids be stored for later, or mobilized and burned for energy? Mitochondria sit at the heart of both processes. Although they are best known for...
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Catalina Vasilescu, PhD @cvasilescu.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
-- Mitochondrial Raf1 regulates glutamine catabolism -- Mitochondrial Fis1 tunes Rab7A activity via TBC1D15 modulating STING degradation
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Catalina Vasilescu, PhD @cvasilescu.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
-- InsP3R signaling and actomyosin-dependent mitochondrial dynamics play essential roles in mitochondrial stress-induced longevity -- Mitochondrial depolarization stabilizes the vitamin B12 chaperone MMADHC in the cytosol to increase MTR activity
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Catalina Vasilescu, PhD @cvasilescu.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Happy Sunday and a new edition of #Mitochondria in #Health & #Disease! biomed.news/bims-mitdis/... 💚 Highlights 👇 4D spatiotemporal landscape of mitochondrial phenotypes [..] @biomednews.bsky.social @mitoscientist.bsky.social @gavinmcstay.bsky.social @mito-news.bsky.social @mitoworld.bsky.social
4D spatiotemporal landscape of mitochondrial phenotypes across cellular states unlocked through representation learning
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Cell - a Cell Press journal @cp-cell.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Now online! Mitochondrial ATP promotes T cell differentiation through chromatin accessibility
dlvr.it
Mitochondrial ATP promotes T cell differentiation through chromatin accessibility
Cell-mediated immunity requires cytotoxic CD8+ T cells that adopt and maintain an effector phenotype. Here, D-α-hydroxybutyrate (DAHB) is shown to act as a metabolic adjuvant, driving the conversion of proliferating CD8+ T cells into cytotoxic effector cells by linking mitochondrial ATP production to chromatin remodeling and gene expression.
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Reposted by Catalina Vasilescu, PhD
Cell Reports @cp-cellreports.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Succinate and its carrier Sfc1 mediate metabolic control of mitochondrial protein import by the TIM23 translocase
dlvr.it
Succinate and its carrier Sfc1 mediate metabolic control of mitochondrial protein import by the TIM23 translocase
Das et al. show that succinate regulates mitochondrial protein import through an interaction between Sfc1 (succinate-fumarate carrier) and the Tim23 translocase subunit. In the absence of succinate, Sfc1 associates with Tim23 and reduces protein import. Succinate promotes dissociation of the Sfc1-Tim23 complex, thereby enhancing TIM23 mediated protein translocation into mitochondria.
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Rahul K @theresearch.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Latest issue of curated #engineeredlivingmaterials feed: biomed.news/bims-enlima/... #ELMs via @biomednews.bsky.social #livingmaterials includes research on: volumetric 3D printing of microalgae-based ELMs (h/t @blascolab.bsky.social), autonomous control of gene expression & more🧪
cell.com
Volumetric 3D printing of microalgae-based engineered living materials
In their work, Windisch et al. demonstrate the successful adaptation of volumetric 3D printing to photosynthetically active green microalgae-based engineered living materials (ELMs), addressing key fa...
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Eric Chevet @ericchevet.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Good morning! This week's selection of articles on #proteostasis thanks to @biomednews.bsky.social -- biomed.news/bims-proteo/... Highlight: Ribosome stalling position, spacing, and A-site occupancy impact translation and cotranslational mRNA decay in plants www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
biomed.news
bims-proteo 2026-09-13 papers
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David Pla Martin @dplamartin.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
mtDNA alterations in muscle progenitors determine myoblast differentiation and disrupt skeletal muscle architecture: Cell Reports www.cell.com/cell-reports...
cell.com
mtDNA alterations in muscle progenitors determine myoblast differentiation and disrupt skeletal muscle architecture
The role of mtDNA integrity in muscle progenitor function remains poorly understood. Sen et al. show that mtDNA alterations in myoblasts impair myogenic differentiation and reshape the mitochondrial p...
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Reposted by Catalina Vasilescu, PhD
www.MitoWorld.org @mitoworld.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
This week's #mitochondria features from @cvasilescu.bsky.social @biomednews.bsky.social : 💥 #Mitophagy in neuronal health & disease: mechanisms to #neurodegeneration 💥 Mitochondrial diversity in the brain 💥 Mitochondrial #bioenergetics & drug addiction #Mitoscientists #mitochondrialdisease
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Catalina Vasilescu, PhD @cvasilescu.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
➡️ Guanosine 10 methylation by TRMT11-TRMT112 optimizes human mitochondrial tRNAs for efficient translation ➡️Mitochondrial superoxide-induced mitohormesis is mediated by citrate and cardioprotective
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Catalina Vasilescu, PhD @cvasilescu.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
➡️ A single-amino-acid cleavage controls global mitochondrial complex integrity ➡️Tissue mitochondrial activity dictates the macrophage pool size
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Catalina Vasilescu, PhD @cvasilescu.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
➡️Tissue mitochondrial activity dictates the macrophage pool size ➡️NAD+ precursor treatment prevents cardiomyopathy but disrupts erythroid maturation in mitochondrial progeria
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Catalina Vasilescu, PhD @cvasilescu.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
➡️ Single-cell profiling of mitochondrial phenotyping–coupled mtDNA genotyping ➡️ Airway administered artificial mitochondria-enriched nanovesicles for efficient and selective mitochondria transfer to intervene in pulmonary fibrosis
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