The Mitochondrial Ribosome: A World of Opportunities for Mitochondrial Dysfunction Toward Parkinson's Disease

Recent Advances: The levels of mitochondrial ribosomal subunits 12S and 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) in cells/tissues from patients carrying mutations in these genes have been associated with alterations in mitochondrial translation efficiency and with impaired OXPHOS activities, as well as with the severity of clinical phenotypes. In recent decades, important studies revealed a prominent role of mitochondrial dysfunction in Parkinson's disease (PD); however, the involvement of mitoribosomes remains largely unknown. Critical Issues: Considering that mitoribosomal structure and function can determine the efficiency of OXPHOS and that an impaired mitochondrial respiratory chain is a common finding in PD, we argue that the mitoribosome may be key to disease onset and progression. With this review, we comprehensively integrate the available knowledge on the composition, assembly, and role of the mitoribosome in mitochondrial efficiency, reflecting on its possible involvement in the etiopathogenesis of this epidemic disease as an appealing research avenue. Future Directions: If a direct correlation between mitoribosome failure and PD pathology is demonstrated, these mitochondrial organelles will provide valuable early clinical markers and potentially attractive targets for the development of innovative PD-directed therapeutic agents. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 00, 000-000.

Automated summary

Recent studies have shown potential significance of mitochondrial ribosomal subunits in mitochondrial dysfunction in Parkinson's disease, however, the exact role of mitoribosomes remains largely unknown. Further research on the correlation between mitoribosome failure and PD pathology could lead to new clinical markers and therapeutic targets.