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 hub in cellular metabolism controlling important biochemical pathways of e.g. amino acids or lipids. They synthesize cofactors like heme or iron-sulfur clusters and are checkpoints for the cellular suicide program, called apoptosis.
Given their pivotal role in cell life and death, even minor impairments in mitochondrial function can lead to severe human diseases. However, despite their significance, our understanding of mitochondrial functions at the molecular level remains limited. Our laboratory aims to illuminate the complexities of these fascinating organelles by integrating proteomics approaches with biochemistry and molecular and cellular biology. Through this multidisciplinary approach, we aim to decipher the mitochondrial (sub)proteome and investigate the functions of novel mitochondrial proteins at the molecular level. Additionally, we seek to unravel the network of cytosolic kinases that interact with the main mitochondrial import machinery, thereby regulating protein influx into the organelle and enabling the mitochondrial proteome to adjust to changing metabolic demands.
