Role of membrane contact sites in preprotein translocation into mitochondria (P25*)

• Subject Area: Biochemistry
• Term: from 2015 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 26068018

Mitochondria possess a characteristic architecture with two membranes and have to import most proteins from the cytosol, yet different views exist on the role of contact sites between outer and inner membranes in preprotein import. We found that the main protein entry gate of the outer membrane interacts with distinct inner membrane complexes, thus promoting the import of different classes of preproteins. The goal of this project is to characterize molecular mechanisms, differential specificity and post-translation regulation of these dynamic membrane contact sites in order to understand the connection between protein translocation and mitochondrial membrane dynamics.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 746: Functional Specificity by Coupling and Modification of Proteins
• Applicant Institution: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Nikolaus Pfanner