Jean-Claude Martinou Group
Department of Cell Biology - Faculty of Science, University of Geneva
Project at a glance
Mitochondria in cell homeostasis
Mitochondria play a role in energy production and in a number of other essential cellular processes, including lipid and amino acid metabolism, the urea cycle, iron sulfur cluster assembly, iron homeostasis and cell death. Mitochondria dysfunctions have been implicated in ageing and in several human pathologies, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and diabetes.
The group is interested in the mechanisms by which mitochondria participate in cell homeostasis. In particular our lab focuses on the activity of the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier during proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells and in the regulation of synaptic transmission in the brain. Moreover, we are studying novel proteins, present in RNA granules, which play a role in mitochondrial mRNA stability.