Cracking mitochondrial ribosome assembly

02 Feb 2012

So far, already an extensive number of factors involved in the biogenesis of cytosolic ribosomes have been identified. However, when it comes to mitochondrial ribosomes, there is still a lot to be learned. For example on the proteins involved in the assembly process. In their search for novel human mitochondrial ribosome-associated proteins, Bas Wanschers (Radboud University Medical Centre Nijmegen) and colleagues performed a comparative genomics study leading to the identification of C7orf30 as the human homolog of the plant protein iojap.  According to the authors, their data point to a role for C7orf30 in ribosomal large subunit function.

C7orf30 specifically associates with the large subunit of the mitochondrial ribosome and is involved in translation.
Wanschers BF, Szklarczyk R, Pajak A, van den Brand MA, Gloerich J. Rodenburg RJ, Lightowlers RN, Nijtmans LG, Huynen MA
Nucleic Acids Research, 2012, 1-12. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkr1271

By: Esther Thole

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