Mitochondrial preproteins en route from the outer membrane to the inner membrane are exposed to the intermembrane space.
Mitochondrial precursor proteins are known to be imported at sites of close contact between mitochondrial outer and inner membranes. We have identified translocation intermediates exposed to the intermembrane space, including the precursor of the ADP/ATP carrier accumulated at the general insertion site GIP, and the precursor of F1-ATPase subunit beta accumulated on its import pathway at low levels of ATP. These results suggest that mitochondrial contact sites are not sealed structures, but that polypeptides pass (at least partly) through the intermembrane space on their route from the outer membrane to the inner membrane.
Rassow
J
J
Institut für Physiologische Chemie, Universität München, Germany.
Pfanner
N
N
D000818:Animals; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D000226:Mitochondrial ADP, ATP Translocases / Q000378:metabolism; D009492:Neurospora crassa / Q000737:chemistry; D010452:Peptide Biosynthesis; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011817:Rabbits; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D011983:Receptors, Purinergic / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
C037688:ADP-ATP carrier receptor; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D011983:Receptors, Purinergic; D000226:Mitochondrial ADP, ATP Translocases