11/05/2011

MTERF4 protein plays an "essential" role in mitochondrial function because, when it isn’t in the knock out animal model, this is not viable, does not develop and die on embryo stage. This is the main conclusion of a publication led by Yolanda Cámara, member of the research group in neuromuscular and mitochondrial disease at Vall d'Hebron, Institut de Recerca (VHIR). The study, in which also collaborated Ciberer and Karolinska Institute, has been published in the journal Cell Metabolism.In the mitochondria, MTERF4 protein interacts with another protein called NSUN4 and form a complex essential for the ribosome to be assembled correctly. When it doesn’t happen no protein synthesis occurs in mitochondria, and therefore mitochondrial function doesn’t take place. The work was based on biochemical tests with the model of knock out mouse conditional on the heart.