Intrinsic errors in mitochondrial translation trigger a decline in cell fitness

Defects in the faithful expression of the human mitochondrial genome underlies disease states, from rare inherited disorders to common pathologies and the aging process itself. The ensuing decrease in the capacity for oxidative phosphorylation alone cannot account for the phenotype complexity associated with disease. Here, we address how aberrations in mitochondrial nascent chain synthesis per se exert a decline in cell fitness using a classic model of mitochondrial induced premature aging. We identify how intrinsic errors during mitochondrial nascent chain synthesis destabilize organelle gene expression, triggering intracellular stress responses that rewire cellular metabolism and cytokine secretion. Further, we show how these mechanisms extend to pathogenic variants associated with inherited human disorders. Together, our findings reveal how aberrations in mitochondrial protein synthesis can sensitize a cell to metabolic challenges associated with disease and pathogen infection independent of oxidative phosphorylation.