MTERF3 knockdown causes an inhibition of mtDNA transcription and an impaired Oxidative phosphorylation, which elicits mitochondrial dysfunction and ROS accumulation, leading to p38 MAPK activation, thereby suppressing the proliferation of HCC cells via inducing S-G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis (Fig. 7). Here, MTERF3 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.