Dr. Oleh Khalimonchuk, assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry, UNL, will present the seminar “Proteolytic control of cellular energy metabolism and fate.”

Mitochondria are complex and highly dynamic organelles responsible for a number of vital functions including cellular energy conversion, a plethora of metabolic and biosynthetic pathways, maintenance of ion homeostasis and programmed cell death. Perturbations of mitochondrial function and integrity lead to dysfunctions that manifest in a spectrum of early- to adult-onset neurological and cardiovascular disorders, certain types of cancer, Type II diabetes and neurodegeneration. Understanding the molecular bases of mitochondrial function/dysfunction is a key for finding ways to combat these currently incurable diseases.