Study of proteins of the MIOREX complex with unknown function putatively involved with the mitochondrial translation

Abstract

Mitochondria are essential for the energy production in eukaryotic cells. Mitochondria contain its own genetic material that relies on a genetic expression system and mitoribosome whose subunits are imported and assembled inside the organelle. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an excellent tool for genetic and biochemical studies involved in mitochondria biogenesis, its studies has facilitated the functional description of many genes that affect the mitochondrial function. Recent studies have demonstrated the existence of foci and granules containing mitochondrial RNA and proteins involved in the mitochondrial genetic expression. This complexes was named MIOREX, and some components do not have a characterized function. Here we propose alternatives that can provide insights on the function of these MIOREX components. The development of studies for each one of these proteins with unknown function can unveil important parameters about the regulation of the mitochondrial translation system. (AU)