Paper out: Review on mass spectrometry for mitostasis research

The Importance of Mitostasis

Mitochondria are indispensable to the cell: they control energy production, the biosynthesis of lipids and amino acids, as well as cellular signaling. To ensure these functions remain stable, the cell must maintain a precise balance—known as mitostasis. A complex network of chaperones, proteases, and the ubiquitin-proteasome system ensures that mitochondrial proteins are correctly imported, folded, and degraded. Disruptions to this system, such as defects in protein import, lead to proteotoxic stress and are the cause of many human diseases.

Mass Spectrometry as a Key Technology

In the current review article, we describe why mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics is an important tool for understanding these processes on a system-wide level. In contrast to many other methods, MS enables a systematic and quantitative analysis of protein abundance, localization, interaction, and dynamics across nearly the entire proteome.

The article provides an overview of modern mass spectrometry approaches:

Quantitative strategies: (e.g., label-free or metabolic labeling) to track proteome changes under stress.

Spatial analysis: Methods such as affinity purification-MS, proximity labeling, and complexome profiling to decipher the organization of chaperone networks.

Dynamic proteomics: Strategies to analyze nascent (newly forming) protein chains in order to capture rapid cellular regulatory responses.

About the Work

In this review, the team led by first author Lakshita Sharma, together with Sristi Chakroborty and Hirak Das in the laboratory of Prof. Bettina Warscheid, presents the current state of the art. Due to our group's intensive practical work with time-resolved quantitative techniques, the authors were able to incorporate their profound expertise directly into the methodological discussion.

Reference:
Sharma, L., Chakroborty, S., Das, H., Oeljeklaus, S., Bender, J., & Warscheid, B. (2026). Mass spectrometry proteomics for studying mitostasis. https://doi.org/10.1002/pro.70673