Understanding Protein Synthesis in Human Mitochondria

Mitochondria are typically known for producing energy within cells, but they are also associated with various diseases. Understanding how protein synthesis happens inside mitochondria is important for understanding the reasons for some of the mitochondrial malfunctions. However, elucidating translational nuances is complicated in vivo, and the current in vitro translation systems have technical limitations. My project focuses on optimizing the mitochondrial in vitro translation system by incorporating human mitochondrial tRNAs and biotechnically modifying the mitoribosome, to enable longer and representative peptide synthesis. Additionally, I aim to explore the structural and biochemical aspects of mitochondrial translation, by using methods like Cryo-EM and the C-Trap optical tweezers. This research promises not only to provide a deeper understanding of mitochondrial biology but also to establish new assays that will be used for understanding mitochondrial diseases and cancers.