CHICAGO, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Researchers at Northwestern University (NU) have identified a receptor that causes kidney dysfunction when suppressed, linking mitochondria with kidney disease.

They found in the study that the receptor, estrogen-related receptor (ERR) gamma, not only directly regulates kidney mitochondrial metabolism but also controls the abundance of renal solute carriers and pumps with another transcription factor called HNF1 beta. Deletion of ERR gamma results in kidney dysfunction comparable to that seen in models with loss-of-function mutations in HNF1 beta, which supports link between ERR gamma and HNF1 beta.

ERR gamma is a critical molecule linking energy-producing and energy-consuming functions in the kidney. It was found in unusually low levels in patients with chronic kidney disease, pointing to its importance in healthy kidney function.

Mitochondria are the power plants of the cell, breaking down nutrients and converting them to chemical energy used in a variety of processes. Mutations in mitochondria can reduce their effectiveness, causing dysfunction in organs with high energetic demand such as the heart or kidneys.

The study, released on NU's website Thursday, has been published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.