Translation termination in human mitochondria: Why do we need four release factors? (A14*)

• Subject Area: Biochemistry
• Term: from 2018 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 105286809

In human mitochondria there are four predicted class I release factors (RFs): mtRF1a, mtRF1, ICT1 and C12ORF65. However, a codon-dependent translation termination activity has been only demonstrated for mtRF1a so far. It has been suggested that mtRF1a is sufficient to terminate all mitochondrial transcripts. The role of the other RFs in mitochondrial translation termination remains elusive. Here, we will investigate the function of mtRF1, which shows significant differences in the decoding motifs compared to other RFs.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 860: Integrative Structural Biology of Dynamic Macromolecular Assemblies
• Applicant Institution: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
• Project Head: Professorin Dr. Ricarda Richter-Dennerlein