Mitochondrial Protein Import Routes

Mitochondrial protein import routes move proteins to the right place inside mitochondria. Mitochondria are double-membrane organelles in eukaryotes. They support cellular metabolism, signaling, ATP synthesis, and programmed cell death. Each of these jobs depends on proteins and enzymes reaching the correct mitochondrial subc...

Mitochondria proteins are encoded by the nuclear genome and transported to the correct mitochondrial compartments by mitochondrial protein sorting.

Mitochondrial proteins are synthesized in the cytosol as unfolded or loosely folded polypeptides called precursor proteins. Each precursor protein contains a signal sequence that targets them ...