Understanding known and novel proteins required for complex I assembly

Complex I of the mitochondrial respiratory chain is a huge machine containing 44 different subunits. Following up on recent studies, (Formosa et al., Cell Reports, 2020 & PNAS, 2021) we are identifying and characterizing proteins involved in complex I assembly and how their mutations cause disease. In this project, we will investigate protein-protein interactions that are required to assemble complex I to discover new proteins involved in this pathway. We will use a combination of cell culture, CRISPR/Cas9 and proteomics approaches that will provide important new insights into this important process.