Publications by authors named "Inge Perschil"

Article Synopsis
  • * Most proteins in the cristae membrane are made in the nucleus, and they need to cross crista junctions to function properly, assisted by the mitochondrial protein import system.
  • * The study identifies a protein called Mar26 that plays a key role in the assembly of the cytochrome bc complex (complex III) by connecting assembly intermediates to a structure called MICOS, which helps coordinate the assembly and stability of respiratory chain components.
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Invaginations of the mitochondrial inner membrane, termed cristae, are hubs for oxidative phosphorylation. The mitochondrial contact site and cristae organizing system (MICOS) and the dimeric FF-ATP synthase play important roles in controlling cristae architecture. A fraction of the MICOS core subunit Mic10 is found in association with the ATP synthase, yet it is unknown whether this interaction is of relevance for mitochondrial or cellular functions.

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Article Synopsis
  • The mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) is crucial for energy metabolism, transporting pyruvate across the mitochondrial membrane, and is distinct from typical transporters due to its unique structure.
  • Recent research demonstrates that instead of the expected flexible presequence pathway, MPC proteins (Mpc2 and Mpc3) are imported into mitochondria via the carrier pathway, involving the receptor Tom70 and other helper proteins.
  • This study highlights the carrier pathway's flexibility in importing different types of proteins, indicating it can accommodate a variety of transmembrane structures and positions of N-termini, which broadens our understanding of mitochondrial import mechanisms.
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The mitochondrial contact site and cristae organizing system (MICOS) is a conserved multi-subunit complex crucial for maintaining the characteristic architecture of mitochondria. Studies with deletion mutants identified Mic10 and Mic60 as core subunits of MICOS. Mic60 has been studied in detail; however, topogenesis and function of Mic10 are unknown.

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Mitochondria contain two membranes, the outer membrane and the inner membrane with folded cristae. The mitochondrial inner membrane organizing system (MINOS) is a large protein complex required for maintaining inner membrane architecture. MINOS interacts with both preprotein transport machineries of the outer membrane, the translocase of the outer membrane (TOM) and the sorting and assembly machinery (SAM).

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F(1)F(o)-ATP synthase is a key enzyme of oxidative phosphorylation that is localized in the inner membrane of mitochondria. It uses the energy stored in the proton gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane to catalyze the synthesis of ATP from ADP and phosphate. Dimeric and higher oligomeric forms of ATP synthase have been observed in mitochondria from various organisms.

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Cytochrome c oxidase (complex IV) of the respiratory chain is assembled from nuclear and mitochondrially-encoded subunits. Defects in the assembly process lead to severe human disorders such as Leigh syndrome. Shy1 is an assembly factor for complex IV in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and mutations of its human homolog, SURF1, are the most frequent cause for Leigh syndrome.

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The mitochondrial inner membrane is the central energy-converting membrane of eukaryotic cells. The electrochemical proton gradient generated by the respiratory chain drives the ATP synthase. To maintain this proton-motive force, the inner membrane forms a tight barrier and strictly controls the translocation of ions.

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Import of mitochondrial matrix proteins involves the general translocase of the outer membrane and the presequence translocase of the inner membrane. The presequence translocase-associated motor (PAM) drives the completion of preprotein translocation into the matrix. Five subunits of PAM are known: the preprotein-binding matrix heat shock protein 70 (mtHsp70), the nucleotide exchange factor Mge1, Tim44 that directs mtHsp70 to the inner membrane, and the membrane-bound complex of Pam16-Pam18 that regulates the ATPase activity of mtHsp70.

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We performed a comprehensive approach to determine the proteome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondria. The proteins of highly pure yeast mitochondria were separated by several independent methods and analyzed by tandem MS. From >20 million MS spectra, 750 different proteins were identified, indicating an involvement of mitochondria in numerous cellular processes.

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