Florent Waltz

Mitochondria are essential cellular components found in almost all eukaryotic cells, commonly known as their “powerhouses” because they regenerate ATP, the cell’s main energy currency. In the lab, we study the molecular architecture of mitochondria, notably, how the proteins responsible for this energy production, known as respiratory complexes, are organized within mitochondria in their native cellular environment and how they shape the mitochondrial membrane architecture. We also study how these complexes are made by the specialised protein synthesis machinery found in mitochondria, the mitoribosomes.

We do that using cutting-edge imaging technologies, such as cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET), to study the intricate architecture and function of these essential organelles.

Furthermore, we investigate mitochondria in diverse organisms, predominantly photosynthetic ones, to elucidate the evolutionary diversity of their structures and the fundamental common mechanisms governing their function.