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Sofia Ahola

@sofiaahola.bsky.social

830 followers 190 following 36 posts

Assistant Professor at Uni Birmingham, 🇬🇧 working on mitochondrial diseases, stress signalling, metabolism and ferroptosis. Hobby science artist 🎨 http://www.sofiaahola.com PhD 🇫🇮 @helsinkiuni | Postdoc 🇩🇪 @mpiage @cecad

www.sofiaahola.com

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Sofia Ahola @sofiaahola.bsky.social · Nov 21

On the cover #MolecularCell. In this issue Acharya and Demetriades show how #mTORC1 🎈activation mediates its own release from the #lysosomes 🪐🌎. It was my pleasure to bring to life the grand idea from Aishwarya and Costas!

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Sofia Ahola @sofiaahola.bsky.social · 15h

Really interesting results!
Makes you wonder if this could link the role of mitochondria in ageing as well via mtDNA release and cGAS.

Eric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · 17h

Why does the naked mole rat have the longest lifespan of any rodent, nearly 40 years?
A 30-year long mystery unraveled @ScienceMagazine today!
Its cGAS enzyme in cells has 4 missense mutations that upends its function, promoting DNA repair and suppressing inflammation
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Sofia Ahola @sofiaahola.bsky.social · Aug 6

It was great working with you and contribute this small part in your project! Will be a colorful reminder of cool science on your wall! 🖼️🧫🧪🖌️😀

Sofia Ahola @sofiaahola.bsky.social · Aug 6

Cell Metabolism www.cell.com/cell-metabol...

Localized GLP1 receptor pre-internalization directs pancreatic alpha cell to beta cell communication

Tong et al. utilize advanced imaging approaches to reveal that beta cells located next to alpha cells are specially adapted as glucagon sensors by virtue of their high expression levels of GLP1R. Thes...

www.cell.com

Sofia Ahola @sofiaahola.bsky.social · Aug 6

Lovely news for the summer! My latest artwork was just published on the cover of @cp-cellmetabolism.bsky.social. Incredible science from @daveyboyhod.bsky.social lab! They discovered how pancreatic alpha cells regulate beta cell function via enriched GLP-1 receptor nanodomains.

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Sofia Ahola @sofiaahola.bsky.social · Jun 26

Highland Wink of Arthur's Seat (BIMDG Meeting in Edinburgh) to the Finnish Seaside Juhannus!
From whispering winds of the city below, to the shimmering shores of the Finnish midsummer night, where the sun refuses to set! ⛰️🔥😄
Happy Midsummer everyone!

Sofia Ahola @sofiaahola.bsky.social · Jun 10

This time science inspired collage workshop that @jonwolfmueller.bsky.social conceptualized for the students @unibirmingham.bsky.social

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Sofia Ahola @sofiaahola.bsky.social · Jun 3

I was also very proud to swim in that lake that was frozen just a week before! :D

Sofia Ahola @sofiaahola.bsky.social · Jun 2

First time as a lecturer in Mitochondrial Summer School! It’s been a while since I got to enjoy the talks as a student. Had fantastic time meeting friends, making new ones and discussing everything mitochondria. Thank you @unioulu.bsky.social and FibroHealth for the lovely time at Rokua, Finland!

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Reposted by Sofia Ahola

Anu Suomalainen Wartiovaara @awartiovaara.bsky.social · May 16

Muscle needs to make serine from glucose to protect the fibers from mitochondrial disease. Read our story, a tour de force of Anastasiia Marmyleva and Christopher Jackson @SWAN @STEMM Helsinki University www.cell.com/cell-reports...

De novo serine biosynthesis is protective in mitochondrial disease

Jackson et al. show that serine becomes an essential amino acid in mitochondrial muscle disease, delaying disease progression. Blocking local biosynthesis of serine challenges cellular phospholipid ho...

www.cell.com

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Reposted by Sofia Ahola

Keshav K Singh, PhD @mitoscientist.bsky.social · May 11

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Sofia Ahola @sofiaahola.bsky.social · May 1

I can come up with one reason at least 😀

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Sofia Ahola @sofiaahola.bsky.social · Apr 28

I had the chance to host an art workshop for our postgraduate students at MSS @unibirmingham.bsky.social with @jonwolfmueller.bsky.social
It was a great opportunity to combine science and art and enjoy some time together. 🎨 🧪 🧫 🧠
Thanks to everyone who joined — it was an inspiring and fun evening!

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Sofia Ahola @sofiaahola.bsky.social · Apr 25

Was lovely to meet you all there!

Reposted by Sofia Ahola

Christian Frezza @frezzalab.bsky.social · Apr 11

www.nature.com/articles/s42...

Metabolites are not genes. repeat, please!

Metabolites are not genes — avoiding the misuse of pathway analysis in metabolomics - Nature Metabolism

Pathway analysis, originally developed for gene expression data, has been adapted for metabolomics. However, owing to the unique characteristics and constraints of metabolites compared with genes, pat...

www.nature.com

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Reposted by Sofia Ahola

EMBO Molecular Medicine @embomolmed.org · Apr 11

Clinically translatable mitochondrial #GeneTherapy in muscle using tandem mtZFN architecture.
By P. Nash, @mitogene.bsky.social & colleagues @mrc-mbu.bsky.social

🗞️ doi.org/10.1038/s443...

Read also related N&V by A. Ghifari & M. Ott 👉 doi.org/10.1038/s443...

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Reposted by Sofia Ahola

Michal Minczuk @mitogene.bsky.social · Apr 9

Huge congrats to Pavel Nash on publishing his PhD work! 🎉 We showcase a safer mtDNA gene therapy using a novel mtZFN architecture compatible with a single AAV. Thanks to the entire team! @mrc-mbu.bsky.social
@mbu-postdocs.bsky.social #MitochondrialDisease #mtDNA
www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....

Clinically translatable mitochondrial gene therapy in muscle using tandem mtZFN architecture | EMBO Molecular Medicine

imageimageEfficient mitochondrial gene therapy is achieved with a novel tandem zinc finger nuclease (mtZFN) architecture delivered via adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors, significantly reducing mutation loads in muscle tissue and rescuing ...

www.embopress.org

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Reposted by Sofia Ahola

MitoStarsLab @richterlab.bsky.social · Apr 9

Application deadline approaching fast! If you are a PhD student or a postdoc register for this summer school in the happiest country in the world. Amazing program, amazing people, amazing place! ssl.eventilla.com/mitochondria...

Mitochondria Summer School

ssl.eventilla.com

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Sofia Ahola @sofiaahola.bsky.social · Apr 5

What a lovely paper from @dplamartin.bsky.social and his team! Mechanistic insight to mtDNA turnover at the lysosomes. 📬

David Pla Martin @dplamartin.bsky.social · Apr 4

Excited to share our latest paper in Science Advances! We finally dissected a new pathway for mitochondrial quality control upon mtDNA replication stress! Let’s start a short thread! 🧵

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Retromer promotes the lysosomal turnover of mtDNA

Lysosomal uptake of mtDNA controls mitochondrial quality.

www.science.org

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Sofia Ahola @sofiaahola.bsky.social · Apr 5

Great to see this out! Such a beautiful paper! 🥂

Reposted by Sofia Ahola

FEBS Junior Section @febsjuniorsection.bsky.social · Mar 10

📌UK Funding Opportunities After Brexit: Experiences and Practical Guidance
🎙️Sofia Ahola, Vitória Baptista, Selin Tüzüner
🗓️13.3. 7:00 PM CET
🔗https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6EmZmK8kSSaueDtQWhLz9A
➡ Network: network.febs.org/posts/febs-j...

#YoungFEBS #onlinetalk #funding #career

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Reposted by Sofia Ahola

Euromit-2026 @euromit-2026.bsky.social · Feb 3

🌍Euromit 2026 is coming to Angers!🌍

✨The international congress dedicated to mitochondrial research, will take place in France, at the Centre des Congrès of Angers. from May 31 to June 4, 2026! ✨

📢 Stay informed by following this page and get ready for an exceptional scientific experience! 🚀🔬

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Reposted by Sofia Ahola

The Lily Foundation @lilyfoundation.bsky.social · Feb 28

Today is #RareDiseaseDay

Did you know there's still no cure for #mitochondrialdisease?

@lilyfoundation.bsky.social are fighting to change this. We've invested over £3 million in research since 2007

Please help us to raise awareness of mito

Find out more
www.thelilyfoundation.org.uk

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Reposted by Sofia Ahola

The Lily Foundation @lilyfoundation.bsky.social · Feb 26

Ahead of #RareDiseaseDay, please join us to educate and increase awareness about rare mitochondrial diseases

Getting mito in the public eye helps drive research, boost donations and improve clinical care for those affected

Please share to advance rare
www.thelilyfoundation.org.uk/affected-by-...

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Sofia Ahola @sofiaahola.bsky.social · Feb 21

Nature, Science, Sauna, Mitochondria. Great line up of speakers! 😀
💚 Mitochondria Summer School in Finland May2025! 💚

www.oulu.fi/en/events/mi...

Mitochondria Summer School in Rokua

Join us for an immersive week at the Mitochondria Summer School 2025, where leading experts and researchers will explore cutting-edge topics in mitochondrial biology!

www.oulu.fi

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Sofia Ahola @sofiaahola.bsky.social · Feb 21

I think the co-essentiality of Parkin and Oma1 is indeed the most stricking finding and that it is indeed via fusion. How is the mtDNA maintenance actually regulated in these conditions is still a mystery to me