Longevity & AgingElamipretide Targets Mitochondrial Membranes to Reverse Aging and Disease
Elamipretide is a mitochondria-targeting peptide that binds cardiolipin in the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM), modulating membrane electrostatics and stabilizing key protein complexes involved in ATP production. Once thought to work mainly by scavenging reactive oxygen species, newer research reveals a more upstream mechanism: elamipretide reduces surface charge on CL-rich membranes, promotes respiratory supercomplex assembly, reduces proton leak through ANT1, and stabilizes the ATP synthasome. These effects improve mitochondrial structure and function across aging models, heart failure, Barth syndrome, primary mitochondrial myopathy, and age-related macular degeneration, with clinical trials now providing early evidence of efficacy in humans.
