Abstract 1340 Structural mapping of mitochondrial co-translational import in cells

Although evidence of co-translational import into the mitochondria was discovered nearly five decades ago, the molecular mechanisms mediating this elusive process have remained unclear and somewhat debated. Our lab harnessed state-of-the-art cryo-electron tomography imaging and computational tools to provide a new molecular perspective to this elusive process. We show that cytoplasmic ribosomes engaged in co-translational import make multiple contacts with the mitochondrial outer membrane. We show that ribosomes primed for import exhibit a high degree of clustering on the mitochondrial surface in an arrangement that suggests the formation of polysomes.