ROCKVILLE, MD – The Apennine brown bear, also known as the Marsican brown bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus), is a unique and critically endangered subspecies of brown bear found only in the remote and rugged Apennine Mountains of central Italy.
A new study by the Italian Endemixit project (endemixit.com) reveals a potentially critical genetic flaw in the endangered Apennine brown bear population of Italy, offering insights that could help boost conservation efforts. The work will be presented at the 69th Biophysical Society Annual Meeting, to be held February 15 - 19, 2025 in Los Angeles.
This distinct population has been isolated for centuries, evolving unique physical characteristics and behaviors that set it apart from other brown bears. With an estimated population of only around 50 individuals, the Apennine brown bear faces a severe risk of extinction due to habitat loss, human encroachment, and genetic vulnerability. Conservation efforts are crucial to safeguarding this species, which plays a vital role in the delicate ecological balance of its mountainous habitat.
The new research identified a specific genetic mutation within mitochondria – the "powerhouses" of cells – that impairs the bears' cellular energy production, potentially impacting their overall health and survival.
The mutation is in the ND5 subunit of Respiratory Complex I. And using a combination of advanced computer modeling and laboratory experiments, the researchers found that this mutation disrupts the function of mitochondria, leading to reduced energy production and increased harmful byproducts like reactive oxygen species. It's like a factory with a broken generator: it produces less power and more pollution.
"This mutation appears to significantly impact these bears," explained Nunzio Perta, a graduate student in the lab of Daniele Di Marino at the Marche Polytechnic University, in Ancona, Italy. "It's like they're constantly running on low batteries. This could make it harder for them to survive, especially in a challenging environment."
But because they've noted that the bears make more reactive oxygen species as a result of this mutation, other researchers are now exploring ways that they might help the bears process these harmful byproducts. One way to do that, Perta explained, is by helping them eat more food with antioxidants in it, perhaps by planting more native berry plants in their habitat.
"By understanding the molecular basis of these genetic problems, we hope to create a plan to protect these bears in their natural environment," said Perta. He added, "the bears are a crucial part of the very unique ecosystem that we have here in Italy."
Image Caption:
Apennine brown bears have a specific genetic mutation within their mitochondria – the "powerhouses" of cells – that potentially impacts their overall health and survival. Image courtesy of Nunzio Perta.
