Heart HealthHeart Protein RND3 Shields Against Heart Attack Damage by Fixing Fuel Metabolism
Scientists have identified RND3, a small protein found inside heart cell mitochondria, as a critical regulator of how the heart burns glucose for energy. In mouse models, deleting RND3 from heart cells caused the heart to shift away from efficient glucose metabolism toward fatty acid burning, leading to dysfunction and higher death rates. After a heart attack and reperfusion event, RND3 levels naturally drop — making the heart more vulnerable. Boosting RND3, on the other hand, protected heart tissue by preserving energy levels. The protein works by blocking an enzyme called ACAT1 from suppressing a key glucose-processing enzyme, PDHA1. These findings suggest that restoring RND3 activity could be a new therapeutic approach to limit heart damage during and after heart attacks.
