Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Assessment of Submitochondrial Protein Localization in Budding Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Published on: July 19, 2021
Import of precursor proteins into isolated yeast mitochondria
Nils Wiedemann1, Nikolaus Pfanner, Peter Rehling
1Institut für Biochemie and Molekularbiologie, Universität Freiburg, Germany.
Abstract:
Mitochondria fulfill a large variety of metabolic tasks such as respiration, beta-oxidation, heme biosynthesis, ketone-body, or amino acid synthesis. In addition to their metabolic role, mitochondria are also key players in cellular apoptosis and participate in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and in calcium signaling. The proteins involved in these processes are mostly encoded by nuclear DNA and synthesized on cytosolic ribosomes. Accordingly, they have to be transported into mitochondria in order to reach the place where they act. The process of mitochondrial protein import can be reconstituted in vitro using isolated mitochondria and in vitro synthesized precursor proteins.
Related Concept Videos
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...
Protein Transport into the Inner Mitochondrial Membrane
Transport of mitochondrial precursors across the TIM23 channel is driven by...
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 to the Inner Chloroplast Membrane
Porin Insertion in the Outer Mitochondrial Membrane
Three models describe the assembly of porins by the SAM complex and their insertion into the outer membrane. Model 1 suggests that porins are assembled outside the SAM channel as the...

