[Link] Mitochondrial Protein Complexes: A Single Amino Acid Can Jeopardize Their Stability

Press Release No. 102/202625 September 2026

        Scientists from Heidelberg and Freiburg identify the mechanism by which proteins assemble into stable complexes in mitochondria
  
        A tiny processing step has far-reaching consequences for mitochondrial function: The removal of a single amino acid determines whether new proteins can assemble into stable complexes within these cellular powerhouses. This process is carried out by a specific enzyme that precisely trims the mitochondrial proteins at their beginning. If this step is missing, numerous protein complexes lose their stability. This shows a study conducted by a research team led by Prof. Dr. Nora Vögtle of Heidelberg University and Prof. Dr. Pitter Huesgen of the University of Freiburg. T...