Mitochondria are essential cellular organelles involved in energy production via oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), metabolite synthesis, calcium homeostasis, and stress responses. Despite their critical roles and extensive research on plant mitochondria, many aspects of their biology remain unclear. Advancing our understanding of these organelles will help address future challenges in food production posed by climate change and a growing global population.
Calcium is a key cellular component, acting as a second messenger in signaling pathways and playing key roles in ATP production and mitochondrial signaling processes. Calcium uptake into the mitochondrial matrix is regulated by the mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uniporter (MCU), a multimeric membrane channel complex. This complex includes regulatory proteins, one of which was reported to be the Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter Regulator (MCUR). Although MCUR was identified in mammalian cells in 2015, its precise role and function are still debated. Conflicting studies suggest it regulates the MCU but that it is also is part of Complex IV in the Electron Transport Chain (ETC), or even functions as a proline transporter in yeast. While mammalian and yeast studies present discordant findings, MCUR proteins remain completely unstudied in plants.
This project aims to investigate the MCUR family in Arabidopsis thaliana to clarify their roles and the processes they are part of. Using genetic tools like CRISPR-Cas9 and insertional mutagenesis, knock-out mutants will be generated and analyzed through physiological and phenotypic studies. Protein-protein interaction assays and -omics analysis, such as transcriptomics and proteomics, will provide further insights into MCUR functions.
This research offers students the opportunity to contribute to a novel field while gaining experience in advanced physiological and molecular techniques. For more information, contact Olivier Van Aken (olivier.van_aken@biol.lu.se).