Description
M4 Ratio of mtDNA to nDNA (mtDNA:nDNA)
Mitochondria have their own genome – their own DNA. The ratio of mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA) to nDNA (nuclear DNA) makes it possible to calculate the number of mitochondria per cell. This ratio can be used as a marker of mitochondrial dysfunction, because a decline indicates that replication (mitobiogenesis) is not occurring, and that mitochondrial numbers are decreasing. This is a sign of cellular distress that may be due to toxins, infection, inflammation, or a number of different causes. Various metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases are associated with reduced numbers of mitochondria, which also lead to ATP deficiency:
https://pediaa.com/difference-between-mitochondrial-dna-and-nuclear-dna/
M5 Nrf-2
NRF-2, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, is the master regulator of our antioxidant system to protect cells from reactive oxygen species.
Nrf-2 activates Phase II detoxification – particularly glutathione-S-transferase and other antioxidant enzymes, including SOD-2, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. It is crucial to have adequate levels of this in the mitochondria.
M6 PGC-1α
PGC-1α (Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator-1Alpha) is of central importance for the induction of mitochondrial biogenesis: the development of new mitochondria. This makes it a key enzyme for our energy metabolism.
PGC-1α is also a transcriptional coactivator, meaning it interacts with many transcription factors that are involved with numerous biological processes: it is a regulator of thermogenesis, gluconeogenesis, the beta-oxidation of fatty acids, of hormone metabolism and our antioxidative system.
The level of this in the mitochondria compared to other indicators is therefore very significant and instructive.