ProjectThe contribution of cytosolic chaperones to the biogenesis of mitochondrial proteins

Basic data

Title:
The contribution of cytosolic chaperones to the biogenesis of mitochondrial proteins
Duration:
01/09/2024 to 31/08/2027
Abstract / short description:
Most mitochondrial proteins are encoded by the nuclear genome and are imported into mitochondria after synthesis on cytosolic ribosomes. Accordingly, they face the challenge of maintaining an import-competent unfolded conformation in the cytosol. This is particularly crucial for those precursor proteins that contain hydrophobic segments, like stretches that will integrate into a mitochondrial membrane. Such exposed hydrophobic regions make these proteins vulnerable to aberrant interactions and aggregation. Therefore, cytosolic factors bind newly synthesized preproteins on their way to mitochondria and thus counteracting aggregation, degradation, and misfolding. Despite the progress made in recent years, we are still missing a comprehensive picture of the complete repertoire of factors that associate with mitochondrial proteins during their passage through the cytosol and mechanistic insights into the roles of individual factors are still absent. In this proposal, we aim to fill this gap by merging the expertise of our two labs, proven over several productive collaborations to be a strong combination. We will address two main aims that are led each by one group but strongly supported by the other one: Aim 1: Define the chaperone interactome of different mitochondrial proteins en route to the mitochondria (led by the Rapaport group). Aim 2: Investigate the interactions of the various (co)chaperones with mitochondrial precursor proteins (led by the Buchner group).
Keywords:
Mitochondria, protein transport, chaperones

Involved staff

Managers

Faculty of Science
University of Tübingen
Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry (IFIB)
Interfaculty Institutes
Research training group: MOMbrane: The multifaceted functions and dynamics of the mitochondrial outer membrane (MAM)
Research training groups

Local organizational units

Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry (IFIB)
Interfaculty Institutes
University of Tübingen

Funders

Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Help

will be deleted permanently. This cannot be undone.