Mitochondrial signalling
Adapting cells to metabolic changes via mitochondrial proteome remodelling
Mitochondrial protein biogenesis
Mitochondria are essential organelles in eukaryotes and best known
as the powerhouse of our cells: they convert the energy from our food into the cellular energy currency ATP. Moreover, mitochondria constitute a central platform in cellular metabolism controlling important biochemical pathways of e.g. amino acids or lipids. They synt.hesize important cofactors like heme or iron-sulfur clusters and are checkpoints for the cellular suicide program, called apoptosis.
Due to this central role in cell life and death, already slightest impairments of mitochondrial functions can lead to severe human diseases. Therefore, it has to be ensured that all proteins, which mediate these functions are located at the correct position within the organelle.
Mitochondria are equipped with more than 1000 different proteins. Most of these proteins are encoded in the nucleus and imported after their synthesis as precursors in the cytosol. Import, sorting into the respective mitochondrial subcompartment and processing of these precursor proteins is mediated by sophisticated protein machineries.
as the powerhouse of our cells: they convert the energy from our food into the cellular energy currency ATP. Moreover, mitochondria constitute a central platform in cellular metabolism controlling important biochemical pathways of e.g. amino acids or lipids. They synt.hesize important cofactors like heme or iron-sulfur clusters and are checkpoints for the cellular suicide program, called apoptosis.
Due to this central role in cell life and death, already slightest impairments of mitochondrial functions can lead to severe human diseases. Therefore, it has to be ensured that all proteins, which mediate these functions are located at the correct position within the organelle.
Mitochondria are equipped with more than 1000 different proteins. Most of these proteins are encoded in the nucleus and imported after their synthesis as precursors in the cytosol. Import, sorting into the respective mitochondrial subcompartment and processing of these precursor proteins is mediated by sophisticated protein machineries.
Mitochondrial signalling
Our group studies how the mitochondrial proteome is build, maintained and dynamically adapted upon changing cellular demands. A major focus is on the discovery of cellular signalling mechanisms which dynamically modulate function of the protein import machineries, thereby adapting the mitochondrial proteome to e.g. metabolic switches, stress conditions or disease related changes like oncogenic switches or amyloid beta toxicity.
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Tilda Publishing
TOM complex as central signal integrator
The mitochondrial protein entry gate TOM acts as central hub in controlling metabolic fitness by integrating various signals from the cytosol. We aim to discover novel principles and regulator mechanisms that control metabolic fitness under physiological and pathophysiological conditions.
