Of Mice and Mitochondria (VIDEO) The Wistar Institute This video is under embargo. Please login to access this video. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Caption TRAP-1 is a protein vital for the production of chemical energy in the mitochondria of cells, but it is over-produced in tumor cells. The laboratory of Dr. Dario Altieri at The Wistar Institute has developed a drug to specifically target TRAP-1 and related proteins (members of the Heat Shock Protein 90 family). To further study the role of TRAP-1 in living organisms, they created 'knockout' mice that lack the gene that encodes TRAP-1. To their surprise, they found that mice born without functioning TRAP-1 live just as long as wild-type mice, yet show fewer signs of age-related disease and cancer. The published their findings July 31 in Cell Reports. In this video, Dr. Sofia Lisanti a fellow in the Altieri lab and first author of the paper, discusses their findings. Credit The Wistar Institute Usage Restrictions With credit. License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.