Mitochondrial protein import: from proteomics to functional mechanisms

September 2010

Schmidt O, Pfanner N, Meisinger C.

Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 11(9):655-67

Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol       online article

Mitochondria contain ~1,000 different proteins, most of which are imported from the cytosol. Two import pathways that direct proteins into the mitochondrial inner membrane and matrix have been known for many years. The identification of numerous new transport components in recent proteomic studies has led to novel mechanistic insight into these pathways and the discovery of new import pathways into the outer membrane and intermembrane space. Protein translocases do not function as independent units but are integrated into dynamic networks.