PROTEIN TRANSLOCATION ACROSS THE OUTER MEMBRANE OF MITOCHONDRIA: Structure and function of the TOM complex of Neurospora crassa

摘要

Transport of nuclear encoded proteins into mitochondria is mediated by distinct translocation machinery in the outer and inner mitochondrial membranes. At the outer membrane, import is facilitated by a multi-subunit complex called TOM. The role of individual TOM components in recognition and translocation of pre-proteins will be discussed. Specific characteristics of the protein-conducting channel and the three-dimensional structure of the TOM complex isolated from Neurospora crassa and determined by electron microscopy are described.