Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Studying Protein Import into Chloroplasts Using Protoplasts
Published on: December 10, 2018
Sequence dependence of tRNA(Gly) import into tobacco mitochondria
Thalia Salinas1, Cécile Schaeffer, Laurence Maréchal-Drouard
1Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes, UPR du CNRS no. 2357, Université Louis Pasteur, 12, rue du Général Zimmer, 67000 Strasbourg, France.
Abstract:
Plant mitochondrial genomes lack a number of tRNA genes and the corresponding tRNAs, which are nuclear-encoded, are imported from the cytosol. We show that specific import of tRNA(Gly) isoacceptors occurs in tobacco mitochondria: tRNA(Gly)(UCC) and tRNA(Gly)(CCC) are cytosolic and mitochondrial, while tRNA(Gly)(GCC) is found only in the cytosol. Exchange of sequences between tRNA(Gly)(UCC) and tRNA(Gly)(GCC) shows that the anticodon and D-domain are essential for tRNA(Gly)(UCC) import. However the reverse mutations in tRNA(Gly)(GCC) are not sufficient to promote its import into tobacco mitochondria.
Related Concept Videos
Translocation of Proteins into the Mitochondria
Sorting of outer membrane proteins:
Mitochondrial outer membrane proteins are of two types: the transmembrane, beta-barrel porins, and the membrane-anchored, alpha-helical proteins. Beta-barrel porin precursors are translocated by the TOM complex and inserted into the outer mitochondrial membrane by the SAM complex. In contrast,...
Protein Transport into the Inner Mitochondrial Membrane
Transport of mitochondrial precursors across the TIM23 channel is driven by...
Protein Transport to the Inner Chloroplast Membrane
Mitochondrial Precursor Proteins
Most of the mitochondrial precursors...
Mitochondrial Protein Sorting
Most of these mitochondrial proteins are encoded by the nucleus and imported to the mitochondria as unfolded or loosely folded precursors. Mitochondrial precursors...
Energy to Drive Translocation
Generally, polypeptides are unfolded by two distinct...

