The interactome of the yeast mitochondrial ribosome : Organization of mitochondrial post-transcriptional regulation, membrane protein insertion and quality control

The proteins found in mitochondria originate from two different genetic systems. Most mitochondrial proteins are synthesized in the cytosol and post-translationally imported into the organelle. However, a small subset of mitochondrial proteins is encoded in an organelle-resident genome. Mitochondria contain factors responsible for replication, transcription and, most important for this thesis, synthesis of the mitochondrially encoded proteins. In the course of evolution the mitochondria specific ribosomes were extensively remodeled. The reasons for many of these adaptations are currently not well understood. For example, the mitoribosome is less stable and abundant than its bacterial counterpart. Therefore, I contributed in the development of robust biochemical tools in order to isolate and analyze the intact yeast mitoribosome and interaction partners by mass spectrometry. The results revealed a higher order organization of mitochondrial gene expression in complexes that we termed MIOREX (mitochondrial organization of gene expression). Besides the mitoribosome, MIOREX complexes contain factors involved in all steps of gene expression. This study also established many new ribosomal interaction partners, among them some proteins that were previously completely uncharacterized. In order to study these proteins, I refined the mass spectrometry approach, allowing a subunit-specific assignment of ribosomal interaction partners. The Mrx15 protein was determined by this approach as an interactor of the large subunit. I established that Mrx15 has overlapping functions with the ribosome receptor Mba1. Both proteins are necessary for mitoribosome membrane attachment and co-translational Cox2 membrane insertion. In a subsequent study I found a functional interaction of MRX15 and MBA1 with the regulators of the membrane-bound AAA proteases of the mitochondrial quality control system. Furthermore, the absence of Mrx15 leads to increased, the absence of Mba1 to decreased proteotoxic stress resistance of yeast cells. These results demonstrate an interesting connection between the mitochondrial quality control and membrane insertion machineries, suggesting an early quality control step during the biogenesis of mitochondrially encoded proteins. In addition, we could reveal a subunit-specific interaction of translational activators and client mRNAs with the mitochondrial ribosome. This organization demonstrated how cytochrome b synthesis is pre-organized by specific translational activators independently of the COB mRNA. In summary, the work in this thesis showed how the vast and diverse interactome of the yeast mitoribosome organizes and regulates mitochondrial translation. These regulation mechanisms highlighted many organelle specific features. The work presented here will serve as starting point to design future studies aimed at a better understanding on how mitochondria adapted to organize gene expression inside the organelle.At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 3: Submitted. Paper 4: Manuscript.