Red light and mitochondrial energy production
Is energy from light like 'money from nothing'?
Hey there,
Healthy cells are at the core of health, and mitochondria are the superstars of cellular health. Each cell contains hundreds to thousands of mitochondria, which produce ATP for the cells to use as energy. ATP is the primary energy currency of the cell, powering various cellular processes.
The electron transport chain across the inner membrane of the mitochondria is where the majority of ATP is created by moving electrons. One of the players here is cytochrome c, which can interact with light in the red/near-infrared spectrum.
I'll let you read the new article for all the details on how a photon of light can increase ATP production in the mitochondria. This is a topic that has been requested by members multiple times over the past couple of years. I do love to get article suggestions, but sometimes it takes a while to get a new article pulled together.
Needless to say, I've found the whole topic to be fascinating. However, I have to warn you that I didn't come up with a lot of research on genetic connections here. Things that are central to life, like ATP production, tend not to have a lot of common genetic variants. While there is a ton of research on red light and photobiomodulation, there is limited information on how it specifically interacts with genes.
Despite having few genetic connections, the potential of red/near-infrared light to enhance mitochondrial function and ATP production is an exciting area of research. I hope you enjoy the article.
Stay curious,
~ Debbie Moon
Red Light and Photobiomodulation: ATP from Photons
Key takeaways:
~ Mitochondria can directly produce (a little) ATP from certain wavelengths of red and near-infrared light.
~ Photobiomodulation is the application of red light to improve health, with studies showing many different benefits.
~ Light intensity and wavelength are important in determining whether the light therapy is beneficial. Time of day is also important.
Energy from light: Producing ATP from Photons
In elementary school science, you likely learned about photosynthesis – that sunlight hitting a green plant is turned into energy. The absorption of certain wavelengths of light by chlorophylls, the pigments that make leaves green, drives the plant’s energy production.
Sun + water + CO2 gets converted to energy and stored in plants.
What is harder to wrap the brain around is the interaction of light (photons) within our own human cells.
I still find it a bit mind-boggling that under the right conditions the mitochondria in our cells can generate energy from light. However, research clearly shows that cells can use light of certain wavelengths to produce energy (ATP). Other wavelengths and intensities can cause other effects in cells.
Photobiomodulation is a light therapy used for pain, inflammation, joint health, wound healing, muscle recovery, and skin health. It sounds like something out of science fiction, but the research into how it works is fascinating.
What I've been reading:
1) Microplastic presence in dog and human testis and its potential association with sperm count and weights of testis and epididymis
This new study in Toxicological Sciences is disconcerting. The researcher found 12 types of microplastics in the testes of dogs (n=47) and humans (n=23). The authors then talk about the potential consequences to the male reproductive system and fertility.
Taking blood pressure medicine based on chronotype reduced heart attacks. Morning-type people who took their blood pressure medicine in the morning were less likely to have a heart attack or stroke, and for people who like to stay up late, taking their blood pressure medicine in the evening was best.