A modified form of the cytochrome P450scc precursor: a new approach in studies on protein import into mitochondria.

Recombinant DNA was constructed providing hypersynthesis of a hybrid protein with a MRGSH6GIR sequence preceding the NH2-terminus of the bovine cytochrome P450scc precursor (6His-pP450scc) in Escherichia coli cells. A large-scale procedure for isolation and purification of this protein was elaborated. 6His-pP450scc was imported into isolated rat liver mitochondria and processed to the mature-sized form. As a similar procedure can be applied to other proteins the results of this work offer new opportunities in studies of protein import into mitochondria.