Project Summary
The majority of mitochondrial proteins are encoded by nuclear genes and synthesised in the cytosol as precursor proteins. These precursors contain specific targeting signals within their amino acid sequences that facilitate their recognition and transport into mitochondria. However, in many cases, only a fraction of a particular protein is imported into mitochondria, while the remainder either remains in the cytosol or undergoes reverse translocation, potentially localising to other cellular compartments. This phenomenon is termed dual localization and has been shown to enhance cellular flexibility, efficiency, and adaptability, which is essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis and responding to dynamic environmental conditions. Despite its significance, the interplay between protein pools in the mitochondrial and other organelles in coordinating regulated cellular processes remains largely unexplored.
As a part of SFB1381, we aim to develop functional tools to study the spatial and temporal organisation of protein machineries that localise to multiple sub-cellular compacts in order to decipher the interplay between the corresponding organellar pools, providing novel insights into their mechanism in the regulation of cellular homeostasis.
