Abstract
About 10% to 15% of the nuclear genes of eukaryotic organisms encode mitochondrial proteins. These proteins are synthesized in the cytosol and recognized by receptors on the surface of mitochondria. Translocases in the outer and inner membrane of mitochondria mediate the import and intramitochondrial sorting of these proteins; ATP and the membrane potential are used as energy sources. Chaperones and auxiliary factors assist in the folding and assembly of mitochondrial proteins into their native, three-dimensional structures. This review summarizes the present knowledge on the import and sorting of mitochondrial precursor proteins, with a special emphasis on unresolved questions and topics of current research.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Carrier Proteins / chemistry
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Carrier Proteins / metabolism
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Carrier Proteins / ultrastructure
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Humans
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Membrane Proteins / chemistry
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Membrane Proteins / genetics
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Membrane Proteins / metabolism
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Membrane Transport Proteins / chemistry
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Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism
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Mitochondria / metabolism*
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Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins
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Mitochondrial Precursor Protein Import Complex Proteins
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Mitochondrial Proteins / chemistry
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Mitochondrial Proteins / genetics
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Mitochondrial Proteins / metabolism*
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Protein Precursors / genetics
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Protein Precursors / metabolism*
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Protein Sorting Signals
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Protein Transport / physiology*
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / chemistry
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism
Substances
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Carrier Proteins
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Membrane Proteins
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Membrane Transport Proteins
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Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins
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Mitochondrial Precursor Protein Import Complex Proteins
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Mitochondrial Proteins
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Protein Precursors
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Protein Sorting Signals
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
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TIM22 protein, S cerevisiae
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TIM23 protein, S cerevisiae