Protein targeting or protein sorting is the biological mechanism by which proteins are transported to their appropriate destinations within or outside the cell. Proteins can be targeted to the inner space of an organelle, different intracellular membranes, the plasma membrane, or to the exterior of the cell via secretion. Information contained in the protein itself directs this delivery process. Correct sorting is crucial for the cell; errors or dysfunction in sorting have been linked to multiple diseases.
The intermembrane space (IMS) is the space occurring between or involving two or more membranes. In cell biology, it is most commonly described as the region between the inner membrane and the outer membrane of a mitochondrion or a chloroplast. It also refers to the space between the inner and outer nuclear membranes of the nuclear envelope, but is often called the perinuclear space. The IMS of mitochondria plays a crucial role in coordinating a variety of cellular activities, such as regulation of respiration and metabolic functions. Unlike the IMS of the mitochondria, the IMS of the chloroplast does not seem to have any obvious function.
The inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) is the mitochondrial membrane which separates the mitochondrial matrix from the intermembrane space. It contains five major protein complexes where in aerobic respiration the energy of oxygen is released and enables the synthesis of ATP via chemiosmosis.
Mitochondrial membrane transport proteins, also known as mitochondrial carrier proteins, are proteins which exist in the membranes of mitochondria. They serve to transport molecules and other factors, such as ions, into or out of the organelles. Mitochondria contain both an inner and outer membrane, separated by the inter-membrane space, or inner boundary membrane. The outer membrane is porous, whereas the inner membrane restricts the movement of all molecules. The two membranes also vary in membrane potential and pH. These factors play a role in the function of mitochondrial membrane transport proteins. There are 53 discovered human mitochondrial membrane transporters, with many others that are known to still need discovered.
Translocase is a general term for a protein that assists in moving another molecule, usually across a cell membrane. These enzymes catalyze the movement of ions or molecules across membranes or their separation within membranes. The reaction is designated as a transfer from “side 1” to “side 2” because the designations “in” and “out”, which had previously been used, can be ambiguous. Translocases are the most common secretion system in Gram positive bacteria.
Mitochondrial import inner membrane translocase subunit Tim8 A, also known as Deafness-dystonia peptide or protein is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the TIMM8A gene. This translocase has similarity to yeast mitochondrial proteins that are involved in the import of metabolite transporters from the cytoplasm into the mitochondrial inner membrane. The gene is mutated in Deafness-dystonia syndrome and it is postulated that MTS/DFN-1 is a mitochondrial disease caused by a defective mitochondrial protein import system.
Mitochondrial import receptor subunit TOM20 homolog is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TOMM20 gene.
Mitochondrial import receptor subunit TOM22 homolog is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TOMM22 gene.
Mitochondrial import inner membrane translocase subunit Tim13 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the TIMM13 gene.
The translocase of the outer membrane (TOM) is a complex of proteins found in the outer mitochondrial membrane of the mitochondria. It allows movement of proteins through this barrier and into the intermembrane space of the mitochondrion. Most of the proteins needed for mitochondrial function are encoded by the nucleus of the cell. The outer membrane of the mitochondrion is impermeable to large molecules greater than 5000 Daltons. The TOM works in conjunction with the translocase of the inner membrane (TIM) to translocate proteins into the mitochondrion. Many of the proteins in the TOM complex, such as TOMM22, were first identified in Neurospora crassa and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Mitochondrial import inner membrane translocase subunit TIM44 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the TIMM44 gene.
Mitochondrial import receptor subunit TOM70 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TOMM70A gene.
Mitochondrial import inner membrane translocase subunit Tim23 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the TIMM23 gene.
Mitochondrial import inner membrane translocase subunit Tim17-A is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the TIMM17A gene.
Mitochondrial import inner membrane translocase subunit TIM14 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the DNAJC19 gene on chromosome 3. TIM14 belongs to the DnaJ family, which has been involved in Hsp40/Hsp70 chaperone systems. As a mitochondrial chaperone, TIM14 functions as part of the TIM23 complex import motor to facilitate the import of nuclear-encoded proteins into the mitochondria. TIM14 also complexes with prohibitin complexes to regulate mitochondrial morphogenesis, and has been implicated in dilated cardiomyopathy with ataxia.
The translocase of the inner membrane (TIM) is a complex of proteins found in the inner mitochondrial membrane of the mitochondria. Components of the TIM complex facilitate the translocation of proteins across the inner membrane and into the mitochondrial matrix. They also facilitate the insertion of proteins into the inner mitochondrial membrane, where they must reside in order to function, these mainly include members of the mitochondrial carrier family of proteins.
Tim9 and Tim10 make up the group of essential small Tim proteins that assist in transport of hydrophobic precursors across the intermembrane space in mammalian cells. Both Tim9 and Tim10 form a hexamer, the Tim9-Tim10 complex, that when associated, functions as a chaperone to assist translocation of preproteins from the outer mitochondrial membrane to the translocase of the inner membrane. The functional Tim9-Tim10 complex not only directs preproteins to the inner mitochondrial membrane in order to interact with the TIM22 complex, but also guides β-barrel precursor proteins to the sorting and assembly machinery (SAM) of the outer membrane.
SecD and SecF are prokaryotic protein export membrane proteins. They are a part of the larger multimeric protein export complex comprising SecA, D, E, F, G, Y, and YajC. SecD and SecF are required to maintain a proton motive force.
The SecA protein is a cell membrane associated subunit of the eubacterial Sec or Type II secretory pathway, a system which is responsible for the secretion of proteins through the cell membrane. Within this system the SecA ATPase forms a translocase complex with the SecYEG channel, thereby driving the movement of the protein substrate across the membrane.
Mitochondrial import inner membrane translocase subunit TIM16 also known as presequence translocated-associated motor subunit PAM16, mitochondria-associated granulocyte macrophage CSF-signaling molecule, or presequence translocated-associated motor subunit PAM16 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PAM16 gene.
