Jee Hyung Sohn, PhD

American Liver Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Award
$25,000 over one year

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Mechanisms of mitochondrial protein import linked to liver metabolism

Mentor: Pere Puigserver, PhD

Mitochondria are vital for maintaining the body's energy balance, and the liver's mitochondria play a central role in regulating metabolism. When liver mitochondria become dysfunctional, it can lead to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and fatty liver disease. My research focuses on a key factor that helps control how mitochondria function in the liver. This component acts like a gatekeeper, allowing critical proteins to enter mitochondria and support their structure and energy production. Notably, I found that a specific mitochondrial import system becomes more active in the livers of mice fed a high-calorie diet, a condition that leads to metabolic liver diseases and diabetes. Despite these important findings, there is still much to uncover about the importance of this mitochondrial protein import machinery in liver mitochondria and its impact on overall energy metabolism and health, particularly in obesity and diabetes. This research aims to uncover how the mitochondrial protein transport system influences liver mitochondrial function and energy metabolism, particularly in the context of obesity and diabetes. By investigating these mechanisms, I hope to identify new strategies to prevent or treat metabolic diseases linked to mitochondrial dysfunction. Ultimately, the knowledge gained from this work could help develop innovative approaches to improve liver health and restore energy balance in individuals affected by liver-related metabolic diseases