title: Protein synthesis and assembly in mitochondrial disorders.
abstract: Human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) codes for 13 polypeptides which constitute the central core of the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complexes. The machinery for mitochondrial protein synthesis has a dual origin: a full set of tRNAs, as well as the 12S and 16S rRNAs are encoded in the mitochondrial genome, while most factors necessary for translation are encoded by nuclear genes. The mitochondrial translation apparatus is highly specialized in expressing membrane proteins, and couples the synthesis of proteins to the insertion into the mitochondrial inner membrane. In recent years it has become clear that defects of mitochondrial translation and protein assembly cause several mitochondrial disorders. Since direct studies on protein synthesis in human mitochondria are still a relatively difficult task, we owe our current knowledge of this field to the large amount of genetic and biochemical studies performed in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These studies have allowed the identification of several genes involved in mitochondrial protein synthesis and assembly, and have provided insights into the conserved mechanisms of mitochondrial gene expression. In the present review we will discuss the most recent advances in the understanding of the mechanisms and factors that govern mammalian mitochondrial translation/protein insertion, as well as known pathologies associated with them.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México. xperez@ifc.unam.mx
authors.forename: Xochitl
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Pérez-Martínez
authors.forename: Soledad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Funes
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Camacho-Villasana
authors.forename: Sanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marjavaara
authors.forename: Faviola
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tavares-Carreón
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shingú-Vázquez
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D028361:Mitochondrial Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation; D010442:Peptide Chain Initiation, Translational / Q000235:genetics; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism