SnapShot: Import and Sorting of Mitochondrial Proteins

摘要

Mitochondria are organelles surrounded by two membranes. They contain ~1000 different proteins, of which 99% are encoded by DNA in the nucleus. These mitochondrial proteins are synthesized on cytosolic ribosomes as precursor proteins. They contain specific targeting signals that guide them to one of the four mitochondrial compartments: outer membrane (OM), intermembrane space (IMS), inner membrane (IM), and matrix. Transport of mitochondrial precursor proteins and their assembly into mature protein complexes requires several intricate molecular machines in the four mitochondrial compartments that are dedicated to transporting distinct classes of substrates.