Translation kinetics and diffusive timescales can combine to regulate mitochondrial localization of mRNAs

Abstract

Eukaryotes employ various regulatory mechanisms to maintain subcellular organization in dynamic environments. Mitochondria pose a unique challenge because mitochondrial proteins are encoded by nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. Targeting nuclear-encoded mitochondrial mRNAs to the mitochondrial surface is crucial for cotranslational import and proper folding of mitochondrial membrane proteins. Recent studies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae haveilluminated its potential as a post-transcriptional mechanism that attunes the nuclear genome to mitochondrial protein levels and metabolic needs.