We are excited to share that our colleague, Dr Anna Karłowicz, hasbeen awarded funding from the National Science Centre (NCN) within the MINIATURA 9 scheme. Her project, “Isolation of native mitochondrial replisome from human cells for structural cryo-EM analysis”, will establish methods to capture and visualise the protein machinery responsible for copying mitochondrial DNA directly from human cells. The award recognises the importance of understanding these complex assemblies in their native form, where composition and regulatory interactions are preserved.
Mitochondria are essential for cellular energy production, and the stability of their DNA (mtDNA) is critical for human health. Errors in mtDNA replication and repair are linked to severe disorders, yet progress in the field has been limited by the lack of detailed structural information on native complexes. By combining gentle isolation procedures with cryo-electron microscopy, Dr Karłowicz aims to deliver new insights into how replication and repair processes are coordinated inside mitochondria. The project is conducted in collaboration with Dr Hans Spelbrink at the Radboud Center for Mitochondrial Medicine, bringing together expertise in mtDNA maintenance and structural biology.
