Loading messenger RNAs onto ribosomes in human mitochondria: lessons learned from a bacterial toxin

Mitochondria are peculiar organelles because their function depends on genetic information that is present in two genomes: nuclear and mitochondrial. The expression of mitochondrially encoded information requires dedicated machinery. Many efforts have been made to identify this machinery and describe its relevant mechanisms. Recently, Bruni et al. reported a cellular model that they established to investigate the pathway for loading messenger RNAs onto ribosomes in human mitochondria. Their study revealed a role for monosome formation in the stability of mitochondrial mRNAs. Comment on: https://doi.org/10.1111/febs.15342