Biogenesis of mitochondrial proteins

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2012:748:41-64. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4614-3573-0_3.

Abstract

Depending on the organism, mitochondria consist approximately of 500-1,400 different proteins. By far most of these proteins are encoded by nuclear genes and synthesized on cytosolic ribosomes. Targeting signals direct these proteins into mitochondria and there to their respective subcompartment: the outer membrane, the intermembrane space (IMS), the inner membrane, and the matrix. Membrane-embedded translocation complexes allow the translocation of proteins across and, in the case of membrane proteins, the insertion into mitochondrial membranes. A small number of proteins are encoded by the mitochondrial genome: Most mitochondrial translation products represent hydrophobic proteins of the inner membrane which-together with many nuclear-encoded proteins-form the respiratory chain complexes. This chapter gives an overview on the mitochondrial protein translocases and the mechanisms by which they drive the transport and assembly of mitochondrial proteins.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Electron Transport Complex IV / physiology
  • Humans
  • Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Mitochondrial Membranes / metabolism
  • Mitochondrial Precursor Protein Import Complex Proteins
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / physiology*
  • Nuclear Proteins / physiology
  • Protein Transport

Substances

  • Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Mitochondrial Precursor Protein Import Complex Proteins
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • OXA1 protein
  • TIMM23 protein, human
  • Electron Transport Complex IV