Richter-Dennerlein, RicardaRicardaRichter-DennerleinOeljeklaus, SilkeSilkeOeljeklausLorenzi, IsottaIsottaLorenziRonsör, ChristinChristinRonsörBareth, BettinaBettinaBarethSchendzielorz, Alexander BenjaminAlexander BenjaminSchendzielorzWang, CongCongWangWarscheid, BettinaBettinaWarscheidRehling, PeterPeterRehlingDennerlein, SvenSvenDennerlein2017-09-072017-09-072016https://resolver.sub.uni-goettingen.de/purl?gro-2/124Mitochondrial ribosomes translate membrane integral core subunits of the oxidative phosphorylation system encoded by mtDNA. These translation products associate with nuclear-encoded, imported proteins to form enzyme complexes that produce ATP. Here, we show that human mitochondrial ribosomes display translational plasticity to cope with the supply of imported nuclear-encoded subunits. Ribosomes expressing mitochondrial-encoded COX1 mRNA selectively engage with cytochrome c oxidase assembly factors in the inner membrane. Assembly defects of the cytochrome c oxidase arrest mitochondrial translation in a ribosome nascent chain complex with a partially membrane-inserted COX1 translation product. This complex represents a primed state of the translation product that can be retrieved for assembly. These findings establish a mammalian translational plasticity pathway in mitochondria that enables adaptation of mitochondrial protein synthesis to the influx of nuclear-encoded subunits.enCC BY-NC-ND 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0journal_article10.1016/j.cell.2016.09.003276933580003863431000223141603https://resolver.sub.uni-goettingen.de/purl?gs-1/13996