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Protein Import Into Isolated Mitochondria

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Mitochondria

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology™ ((MIMB,volume 372))

Abstract

Import of proteins into mitochondria is a pivotal process in the biogenesis of mitochondria. Only about 1% of the 1000–2000 different proteins constituting the mitochondrion are encoded in the mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). All others are specified by nuclear genes. They are translated in the cytosol and released from ribosomes as precursor proteins, which are then translocated into the various mitochondrial subcompartments. In the past, a variety of methods has been developed to study the process of import. An important tool is the use of in vitro import systems using isolated mitochondria and precursor proteins synthesized in cell-free systems. Together with the use of genetic and biochemical methods, this led to the identification of several translocation machineries consisting of a large number of components.

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© 2007 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Mokranjac, D., Neupert, W. (2007). Protein Import Into Isolated Mitochondria. In: Leister, D., Herrmann, J.M. (eds) Mitochondria. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 372. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-365-3_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-365-3_20

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-667-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-365-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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