Protein
Mitochondrial import inner membrane translocase subunit TIM8
Organism
Saccharomyces cerevisiae (strain ATCC 204508 / S288c)
Function
Mitochondrial intermembrane chaperone that participates in the import and insertion of some multi-pass transmembrane proteins into the mitochondrial inner membrane. Also required for the transfer of beta-barrel precursors from the TOM complex to the sorting and assembly machinery (SAM complex) of the outer membrane. Acts as a chaperone-like protein that protects the hydrophobic precursors from aggregation and guide them through the mitochondrial intermembrane space. The TIM8-TIM13 complex is non essential and only mediates the import of few proteins under precise conditions, while the predominant TIM9-TIM10 70 kDa complex is crucial and mediates the import of much more proteins. Strictly required for import of TIM23 in some conditions, when a low membrane potential exists in the mitochondria.
Similarity
Belongs to the small Tim family.
Sequence
MSSLSTSDLASLDDTSKKEIATFLEGENSKQKVQMSIHQFTNICFKKCVESVNDSNLSSQEEQCLSNCVNRFLDTNIRIVNGLQNTR