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. 2013 Aug 13;14(8):16685–16705. doi: 10.3390/ijms140816685

Figure 5.

Figure 5

Small Tim function in carrier protein biogenesis. (A) Biogenesis of AAC. Stage I, precursor in the cytosol is bound by chaperones. Stage II, precursor engages the TOM complex at the mitochondrial OM. Stage III, precursor is bound by the small Tim proteins and chaperoned through the IMS. Stage IV, precursor interacts with Tim12 (in purple) and reaches the TIM22 complex. Stage V, the carrier protein is fully inserted in the IM and dimerizes into its functional form; (B) Model for small Tim proteins interaction with the AAC substrate. AAC binding is initiated through the N-termini of the small Tim subunits. AAC could either substitute a Tim9 subunit (competitive displacement) or cut across some of the complex subunits (bisecting dimerization). The two models are not mutually exclusive and at least one Tim9 subunit remains in close proximity to the substrate.