Institute of Molecular Biology
Topic
Mitochondrial processing peptidase: a key enzyme of mitochondrial protein import
PhD. program
Genetics, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry,
Year of admission
2025
Name of the supervisor
Mgr. Nina Kunová, PhD.
Contact:
Receiving school
Commenius University, Faculty of Natural Sciences
Annotation
In this work, we will study the human mitochondrial processing peptidase (MPP), which is encoded by PMPCA and PMPCB genes and secures the removal of presequences of mitochondrial proteins synthesized in the cytosol. We will focus on the influence of the PMPCA gene mutations identified in a patient with significant physical and mental disabilities. We will also study the influence of PMPCA phosphorylations that are often linked to various human diseases, particularly cancer. Moreover, we plan to perform the proteomic and transcriptomic analyses of human mitochondria with mutated PMPCA and controls to look for proteins whose levels might be affected and thus, clarify the role of MPP in regulation of mitochondrial protein import.