Igor Tarassov and Alexander Smirnov lead the MITO research team at the University of Strasbourg's Faculty of Life Sciences within the Molecular Genetics, Genomics, Microbiology (GMGM) department. Their research focuses on intracellular RNA trafficking and mitochondrial diseases, investigating fundamental mechanisms of mitochondrial biology and their implications in human health. Research interests center on mitochondrial-nuclear crosstalk, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, ribosome assembly factors, and post-transcriptional regulatory networks. Their work spans from basic molecular mechanisms to translational applications in mitochondrial disorders, leveraging diverse model systems including yeast, plants, and human cells. Recent publications reveal a strong focus on mitochondrial gene expression mechanisms, CRISPR-based mitochondrial editing systems, and the evolutionary conservation of ribosomal assembly factors. Their research demonstrates consistent innovation in understanding fundamental cellular processes with implications for rare genetic disorders and broader metabolic diseases. LabEx MitoCross (€4.5 million, 2021-2028): Leading 6 teams studying mitochondria-nuclear crosstalk ANR Young Researcher Grant (€228k, 2020-2023): Focused on ribosome assembly factors ANR Collaborative Project (€204k, 2024-2026): Investigating ribosome isoaspartylation The team actively participates in international collaborations, including with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NIH), and contributes to major scientific resources like the AARS Online database. They maintain strong connections with the IMCBio initiative and the Labex MitoCross consortium, organizing seminars and contributing to the scientific community through publications and resource development.










