Eilers M, Hwang S, Schatz G
University of Basel, Department of Biochemistry, Switzerland.
EMBO J. 1988 Apr;7(4):1139-45. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1988.tb02923.x.
A purified mitochondrial precursor protein unfolds to a protease-sensitive conformation at the surface of isolated mitochondria before being imported into the organelles. This unfolding is stimulated by a potential across the mitochondrial inner membrane, but does not require ATP. In contrast, import of the surface-bound unfolded precursor requires ATP, but no potential; it is accompanied by a refolding inside the mitochondria.