Mitochondrial import receptor subunit TOM20 homolog is a
protein
Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residue (biochemistry), residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including Enzyme catalysis, catalysing metab ...
that in humans is encoded by the ''TOMM20''
gene
In biology, the word gene has two meanings. The Mendelian gene is a basic unit of heredity. The molecular gene is a sequence of nucleotides in DNA that is transcribed to produce a functional RNA. There are two types of molecular genes: protei ...
.
TOM20 is one of the receptor systems of the
translocase of the outer membrane
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. M ...
(TOM) complex in the
outer mitochondrial membrane
A mitochondrion () is an organelle found in the cells of most eukaryotes, such as animals, plants and fungi. Mitochondria have a double membrane structure and use aerobic respiration to generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is used ...
.
Function
In mitochondrial protein import, TOM20 is closely associated with the
pore-forming TOM40 complex and acts by recognizing and binding the
N-terminal
The N-terminus (also known as the amino-terminus, NH2-terminus, N-terminal end or amine-terminus) is the start of a protein or polypeptide, referring to the free amine group (-NH2) located at the end of a polypeptide. Within a peptide, the amin ...
MTSs (matrix-targeting sequences), which form an
amphipathic
In chemistry, an amphiphile (), or amphipath, is a chemical compound possessing both hydrophilic (''water-loving'', polar) and lipophilic (''fat-loving'', nonpolar) properties. Such a compound is called amphiphilic or amphipathic. Amphiphilic c ...
alpha helix
An alpha helix (or α-helix) is a sequence of amino acids in a protein that are twisted into a coil (a helix).
The alpha helix is the most common structural arrangement in the Protein secondary structure, secondary structure of proteins. It is al ...
and aid passage of the target proteins into the mitochondrial
matrix
Matrix (: matrices or matrixes) or MATRIX may refer to:
Science and mathematics
* Matrix (mathematics), a rectangular array of numbers, symbols or expressions
* Matrix (logic), part of a formula in prenex normal form
* Matrix (biology), the m ...
.
See also
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TOMM22
Mitochondrial import receptor subunit TOM22 homolog (hTom22) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''TOMM22'' gene.
The protein encoded by this gene is an integral membrane protein of the outer mitochondrial membrane. The encoded protein ...
*
TOMM40
Mitochondrial import receptor subunit TOM40 homolog is a protein which in humans is encoded by the ''TOMM40'' gene.
Function
''TOMM40'' codes for a protein that is embedded into outer membranes of mitochondria and is required for the movement ...
*
TOMM70A
Mitochondrial import receptor subunit TOM70, also known as translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane protein 70 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''TOMM70'' gene
In biology, the word gene has two meanings. The Mendelian gene ...
References
Further reading
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