Mitochondrial targeting signals membrane proteins

This a-helix is amphipathic, containing patches of positively charged and hydrophobic amino acids, respectively, on opposite surfaces of the theoretical cylinder. The presequence is usually processed by the mitochondrial processing peptidase (MPP) and the mature protein is sorted to either the matrix, or to the inner membrane if it bears a hydrophobic stop-transfer sequence. Some mitochondrial proteins, mostly destined to the membranes, do not have cleavable N-terminal presequences but have internal targeting signals that are not well characterized (Pfanner and Geissler 2001). 

When caspase 8, an initiator caspase, is activated by an apoptotic signal carried through FADD, it further self-activates by cleaving its own proenzyme form. Mitochondria are one target of active caspase 8. The protease causes the release of certain proteins contained between the inner and outer mitochondrial membranes ... 

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