The interplay between the translation machinery and the mitochondrial dysfunction under cellular stress.

The rate at which population is ageing is increasing and it is a growing problem from both the social and economic standpoint. Over the time, damaged and misfolded proteins accumulate in organisms which leads to various illnesses, with emphasis on neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. On the cellular level, the mitochondrial dysfunction and protein homeostasis maintenance, including protein synthesis, have been proven to be important factors related to ageing and age-related diseases. Interestingly, recent studies have shown that translation inhibition is caused by the accumulation of the mitochondrial precursor protein in the cytosol. In this project translation inhibition due to mitochondrial stress will be investigated with emphasis on its functional consequences and mechanisms engaging ribosome quality control. The characterization of the interplay of these cellular processes is necessary to better understand the pathology of these disorders.