Cre09.g405550.t1.2 Mitochondrial inner membrane translocase

The import of proteins across the outer and inner mitochondrial membranes into the matrix. Unfolded proteins enter the mitochondrial matrix with a chaperone protein; the information required to target the precursor protein from the cytosol to the mitochondrial matrix is contained within its N-terminal matrix-targeting sequence. Translocation of precursors to the matrix occurs at the rare sites where the outer and inner membranes are close together.

The protein transport machinery of the mitochondrial inner membrane that contains three essential Tim proteins: Tim17 and Tim23 are thought to build a preprotein translocation channel while Tim44 interacts transiently with the matrix heat-shock protein Hsp70 to form an ATP-driven import motor.