Overview

• Scientists at EMBL and the University of Virginia discovered that ribosomes in starved yeast cells attach to mitochondria, entering a hibernation state.
• This adaptation helps cells conserve energy by suspending protein production during nutrient deprivation.
• Ribosomes attach to mitochondria in an unexpected 'upside-down' manner, using their small subunit rather than the large one.
• The study suggests parallels between yeast cell survival mechanisms and those of cancer cells, which also endure nutrient scarcity.
• Understanding these cellular adaptations could aid in developing treatments to make cancer cells more vulnerable to starvation.