Florent Waltz

How does a cell build, organize, and maintain its metabolic heart?

Mitochondria are the essential energy centers of almost all eukaryotic life. Commonly known as the “powerhouses” of the cell, they regenerate ATP, the cell’s main energy currency, to fuel biological processes. Beyond that, mitochondria are dynamic metabolic hubs and structural masterpieces where energy conversion and vital biosynthesis converge. Our lab maps this intricate molecular landscape using cutting-edge imaging technologies.

Visualizing the Native Proteome

We move beyond isolated proteins to study the cell in its functional state. Using Cryo-Electron Tomography (cryo-ET), we perform visual proteomics, capturing mitochondria in their native cellular context, at the crossroads of cellular and structural biology.

While we focus on the respiratory complexes that sculpt the inner membrane and the mitoribosomes that build them, our approach resolves the entire proteome in situ. This provides a holistic 3D picture of how the mitochondrion functions as a coordinated engine. To achieve this, we integrate cryo-ET with complementary techniques such as high-resolution SPA cryo-EM and Mass Spectrometry.

Evolutionary Diversity

Nature has solved the problem of energy production in myriad ways. By imaging diverse organisms, predominantly photosynthetic ones, we elucidate the unique structural adaptations and universal mechanisms that allow different life forms to function.