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Showing TOMM70TOMM70A is a alias.

TOMM70

Mitochondrial import receptor subunit TOM70 · UniProt O94826

Length
608 aa
Mass
67.5 kDa
Annotated
2026-06-10
67 papers in source corpus 37 papers cited in narrative 37 extracted findings
Cross-family judge vs UniProt: Affinage preferred faithfulness: 7/7 claims corpus-supported (100%)

Mechanistic narrative

Synthesis pass · prose summary of the discoveries below

TOMM70 is a tetratricopeptide-repeat (TPR) receptor of the mitochondrial outer membrane whose principal function is to recruit cytosolic chaperones to the organelle surface and thereby deliver hydrophobic, internally-targeted preproteins into the import machinery (PMID:12526792, PMID:33826901). Distinct from presequence receptors, its cytosolic domain preferentially binds internal targeting signals (iMTS-like segments) distributed throughout the mature regions of substrates rather than N-terminal presequences (PMID:9252394, PMID:10347216, PMID:29382700), and a folded core domain containing TPR motifs is sufficient for this internal-signal recognition (PMID:11054285); the receptor also keeps aggregate-prone precursors soluble during transfer (PMID:19767391). Chaperone docking occurs through the TPR clamp/EEVD interaction, in which a single MEEVD motif of dimeric Hsp90 engages the monomeric receptor (PMID:12526792, PMID:27402847, PMID:21781956), with Hsp70/Hsc70, Hsp40-family J-proteins, and Hsp90 cochaperones cooperating in import (PMID:17596514); the functional receptor is a monomer, and chaperone binding is incompatible with dimerization (PMID:19358854, PMID:20504278). The cytosolic domain interconverts between open and closed conformations linking the chaperone-binding N-terminal domain to the preprotein-binding C-terminal domain through an allosteric helical network (PMID:41386227), and competition by Tom20's C-terminal DDVE motif at the clamp provides a chaperone-displacement mechanism (PMID:21771790). TOMM70 functions as an innate-immune adaptor, interacting with MAVS upon RNA-virus infection and recruiting TBK1/IRF3 to mitochondria via its clamp-domain (R192)-Hsp90 EEVD interaction (PMID:20628368); SARS-CoV-2 Orf9b subverts this by occupying the CTD hydrophobic pocket and blocking Hsp90 docking to suppress interferon signaling (PMID:33990585, PMID:41332678). The receptor additionally organizes ER-mitochondria contacts, recruiting IP3R3 to drive Ca2+ transfer that supports respiration (PMID:29395920), and its import activity is tuned by O-GlcNAcylation of Ser94 written by OGT downstream of PERK and opposed by CK2α phosphorylation (PMID:33592173). De novo loss-of-function variants in TOMM70 (p.Thr607Ile, p.Ile554Phe) cause neurological impairment (PMID:32356556).

Mechanistic history

Synthesis pass · year-by-year structured walk · 32 steps
  1. 1997 High

    Established that Tom70 is a functionally distinct import receptor, answering whether all receptors recognize the same targeting signal: it binds internal targeting signals, not N-terminal presequences.

    Evidence in vitro preprotein binding and presequence-peptide competition with purified cytosolic receptor domains

    PMID:9252394

    Open questions at the time
    • Did not map the binding determinants within internal signals
    • Chaperone involvement in delivery not yet addressed
  2. 1999 High

    Defined the nature of Tom70 binding sites within substrates, showing internal targeting signals are dispersed and not charge-dependent.

    Evidence cellulose-bound peptide scans (SPOT) with purified receptor domains

    PMID:10347216

    Open questions at the time
    • Structural basis of recognition not resolved
    • Did not address how multiple sites are engaged in vivo
  3. 2000 High

    Localized the substrate-binding activity to a discrete folded core domain, narrowing which TPR motifs carry recognition.

    Evidence domain truncation, recombinant fragment purification, competition binding assays

    PMID:11054285

    Open questions at the time
    • Identity of the additional interaction site left open
    • Relation to chaperone-binding region not defined
  4. 2003 High

    Resolved how preproteins reach the receptor, establishing chaperone-assisted delivery: Hsp90/Hsp70 dock onto a specialized TPR domain and hand off preproteins for Hsp90-ATPase-dependent translocation.

    Evidence co-IP, cross-linking, in vitro import with purified cytosolic Tom70 fragment across mammalian and yeast systems

    PMID:12526792

    Open questions at the time
    • Stoichiometry of the chaperone-receptor complex not defined
    • Step at which chaperones release substrate unclear
  5. 2006 High

    Dissected when Hsp90 acts during import, showing it operates at post-targeting steps via its C-terminal region rather than at the docking step.

    Evidence Hsp90 N- vs C-terminal inhibitor comparison, cross-linking, co-precipitation, in vitro import

    PMID:16968702

    Open questions at the time
    • Mechanism of preprotein release into the translocase not resolved
  6. 2006 Medium

    Extended the substrate range to a regulatory protein, showing Mcl-1 uses an internal EELD motif for Tom70-dependent mitochondrial targeting.

    Evidence co-IP, blocking-antibody import assay, siRNA, EELD-motif mutagenesis

    PMID:16822835

    Open questions at the time
    • Single lab
    • Functional consequence of Mcl-1 import for apoptosis not addressed here
  7. 2007 High

    Defined the broader chaperone network feeding the receptor, identifying DJA J-proteins and Hsp90 cochaperones (p23, Aha1) as cooperating factors.

    Evidence MS interactome, dominant-negative mutants, Hsc70 ATPase assays, in vitro import in HeLa

    PMID:17596514

    Open questions at the time
    • Hierarchy/order of cochaperone action not fully ordered
    • Substrate selectivity of individual DJAs unresolved
  8. 2009 High

    Established the oligomeric state and simultaneous-binding capacity of the cytosolic domain, showing it is an elongated monomer binding chaperone and precursor at once.

    Evidence analytical ultracentrifugation, SAXS, fluorescence anisotropy, modeling

    PMID:19358854

    Open questions at the time
    • In-membrane oligomeric state of full-length receptor not directly tested here
  9. 2009 High

    Reframed Tom70 as a solubility chaperone, showing its receptor domain prevents aggregation of presequence-containing aggregate-prone substrates.

    Evidence proteome-wide in vitro import and aggregation-prevention assays with purified receptor domain

    PMID:19767391

    Open questions at the time
    • Did not quantify in vivo contribution relative to chaperone recruitment
  10. 2010 High

    Confirmed the monomer as the functional import unit in the human receptor, linking dimer disruption to enhanced targeting.

    Evidence AUC, cross-linking, SEC-MALS, dimer-interface mutagenesis, in vitro targeting

    PMID:20504278

    Open questions at the time
    • Physiological regulation of monomer-dimer equilibrium unknown
  11. 2010 High

    Identified a non-import role, establishing Tom70 as an innate-immune adaptor that recruits TBK1/IRF3 to mitochondria downstream of MAVS via Hsp90.

    Evidence reciprocal co-IP, siRNA, R192 clamp mutation, IRF3 reporter assay

    PMID:20628368

    Open questions at the time
    • How chaperone recruitment for import versus signaling is partitioned unclear
  12. 2011 High

    Defined a chaperone-displacement mechanism, showing Tom20's DDVE motif competes with chaperones at the TPR clamp to promote preprotein handoff.

    Evidence endogenous cross-linking, co-precipitation, NMR titration, SPR, mutagenesis

    PMID:21771790

    Open questions at the time
    • Kinetics of handoff during active import not measured
  13. 2011 Medium

    Quantified the Hsp90-Tom70 interaction, establishing a 1 monomer:1 Hsp90-dimer stoichiometry distinct from other TPR cochaperones.

    Evidence ITC, SEC, biophysical analysis

    PMID:21781956

    Open questions at the time
    • Single method (ITC)-dominated
    • Functional import consequence not tested in this study
  14. 2013 Medium

    Showed receptor specialization for an unusual substrate, establishing that PINK1 import requires Tom70 but bypasses the Tom40 channel and processing peptidase.

    Evidence cell-free import with Tom70 and Tom40 depletions, processing assay

    PMID:23472196

    Open questions at the time
    • Single study
    • Translocation route for PINK1 beyond Tom70 unresolved
  15. 2014 Medium

    Linked Tom70 import function to organ physiology, showing its loss impairs OPA1 import and drives oxidative stress and cardiac hypertrophy.

    Evidence in vivo/in vitro knockdown and overexpression, OPA1 import assay, ROS, echocardiography

    PMID:25022898

    Open questions at the time
    • Single lab
    • Direct vs indirect cause of hypertrophy not fully separated
  16. 2015 High

    Revealed that Tom70 also contributes to the presequence pathway, identifying a dedicated presequence-binding groove.

    Evidence fluorescence presequence-peptide binding, M551R mutagenesis, in vitro import

    PMID:25958336

    Open questions at the time
    • Quantitative contribution to presequence import in vivo not defined
  17. 2015 Medium

    Expanded the immune-adaptor role to apoptosis, showing a Tom70/Hsp90/IRF3/Bax complex drives cytochrome c release via IKK-i.

    Evidence co-IP, fractionation, cytochrome c release, siRNA, ectopic expression

    PMID:25609812

    Open questions at the time
    • Single lab
    • Trigger distinguishing pro-apoptotic vs pro-IFN outcomes unresolved
  18. 2016 High

    Refined the chaperone-receptor architecture, defining a secondary Hsp90 CTD-Tom70 contact beyond the canonical MEEVD/TPR site that affects import.

    Evidence XL-MS, ITC, SAXS, HDX-MS, in vitro import

    PMID:27402847

    Open questions at the time
    • Role of secondary site in vivo not isolated
  19. 2017 Medium

    Connected the receptor to mitochondrial Ca2+ handling, showing Tom70 governs MICU1 localization and cardioprotection during ischemia/reperfusion.

    Evidence knockdown/overexpression, mitochondrial fractionation, Ca2+ measurement, MI/R mouse model

    PMID:28703803

    Open questions at the time
    • Single lab
    • Whether MICU1 is a direct import substrate not established
  20. 2018 High

    Formalized the internal-signal recognition logic with the iMTS-L/stepping-stone model, showing internal MTS-like signals mediate Tom70 binding and improve import efficiency.

    Evidence iMTS-L prediction, in vitro import with Tom70 deletion, N-terminal fusion targeting, binding assays

    PMID:29382700

    Open questions at the time
    • Predictive rules for which substrates strictly require Tom70 incomplete
  21. 2018 High

    Established a membrane-contact-site role, showing TOM70 recruits IP3R3 at ER-mitochondria junctions to sustain Ca2+ transfer and bioenergetics.

    Evidence super-resolution imaging, siRNA, Ca2+ imaging, IP3R3 co-IP, respiration assays

    PMID:29395920

    Open questions at the time
    • Structural basis of TOM70-IP3R3 interaction not defined
  22. 2021 High

    Resolved the predominant in vivo function, demonstrating that chaperone recruitment (not mitochondrion-specifying targeting) is the core activity protecting the cytosol from mitoprotein stress.

    Evidence in vivo high-content screens, heterologous chaperone-binding domain tethering complementation, proteotoxicity assays

    PMID:33826901

    Open questions at the time
    • Substrates strictly dependent on targeting specificity not enumerated
  23. 2021 High

    Identified post-translational tuning of import, showing PERK-OGT-driven O-GlcNAcylation of Ser94 enhances MIC19 import and cristae formation, opposed by CK2α.

    Evidence in vivo/in vitro reconstitution, OGT glycosylation assay, Ser94 mutagenesis, cristae cryo-EM, PERK/OGT/CK2α epistasis

    PMID:33592173

    Open questions at the time
    • Generality of Ser94 modification across substrates beyond MIC19 unclear
  24. 2021 High

    Provided the structural mechanism of viral subversion, showing SARS-CoV-2 Orf9b occupies the CTD pocket and allosterically suppresses Hsp90 EEVD binding ~29-fold.

    Evidence 2.2 Å crystal structure, ITC, synthetic peptide binding

    PMID:33990585

    Open questions at the time
    • In-cell quantification of interferon suppression not in this study
  25. 2021 Medium

    Mapped the Orf9b-TOM70 interface and its phospho-regulation, identifying Orf9b Ser53 / TOM70 Glu477 as critical and a second NTD binding site.

    Evidence mutagenesis, co-precipitation, phosphomimetic (S53E) analysis, chaperone recruitment assay

    PMID:34502139

    Open questions at the time
    • Single lab/single study
    • Physiological kinase for Orf9b S53 not identified
  26. 2022 Medium

    Biophysically characterized the Orf9b-TOM70 complex, confirming Orf9b blocks both full-length and isolated CTD Hsp90 and stabilizes TOM70.

    Evidence SEC-MALS, CD, DSC, co-expression/co-purification, pull-down

    PMID:35643212

    Open questions at the time
    • No in-cell functional validation
  27. 2022 Medium

    Uncovered a moonlighting transcriptional role, showing Tom70 regulates mitochondrial-protein genes and influences replicative lifespan, conserved to Drosophila.

    Evidence yeast/Drosophila genetics, transcriptional reporters, membrane-potential/mtDNA measurements, lifespan assay

    PMID:35234609

    Open questions at the time
    • Single lab
    • Mechanism by which an OMM receptor influences transcription unresolved
  28. 2023 Medium

    Showed viral exploitation for mitophagy, where ASFV p17 bridges SQSTM1 to TOMM70 to degrade antiviral signaling proteins.

    Evidence co-IP/MS, co-IP, mitophagy assays, siRNA

    PMID:37442088

    Open questions at the time
    • Single lab
    • Whether endogenous mitophagy uses TOMM70 similarly unknown
  29. 2025 High

    Defined the conformational dynamics underlying allostery, showing open/closed states connect NTD and CTD and that Orf9b interrupts this network.

    Evidence 2.04 Å crystal structure, HDX-MS, MD simulations, network analysis

    PMID:41386227

    Open questions at the time
    • Functional import readout for conformational states not directly measured
  30. 2025 High

    Identified the biogenesis pathway of the receptor itself, showing PPID/Cyp40 drives TOM70 OMM insertion with physiological consequences for thermogenesis.

    Evidence in vitro insertion reconstitution, PPIase/TPR mutagenesis, brown adipocyte assays, mouse obesity model

    PMID:39753947

    Open questions at the time
    • Whether other insertases contribute in parallel not resolved
  31. 2025 Medium

    Connected a specific human-mutation residue to disease mechanism in vivo, showing the Ile554-equivalent variant disrupts a Lam6 interaction and causes axonal/myelin defects resembling hereditary spastic paraplegia.

    Evidence zebrafish missense model, Tomm70-Lam6 co-IP, mitochondrial transport imaging, myelin EM

    PMID:40151845

    Open questions at the time
    • Single lab
    • Mechanistic link between Lam6 loss and demyelination incomplete
  32. 2025 Medium

    Revealed a nuclear-tethering moonlighting function, showing Tom70 recruits Cnm1 to tether mitochondria to the nuclear envelope during yeast meiosis independent of import.

    Evidence live-cell imaging, tom70Δ/cnm1Δ deletion, genetic epistasis, fractionation (preprint)

    PMID:41332789

    Open questions at the time
    • Preprint
    • Conservation in mammals not tested

Open questions

Synthesis pass · forward-looking unresolved questions
  • It remains unresolved how a single receptor partitions its activities among canonical chaperone-mediated import, ER/nuclear contact-site tethering, transcriptional regulation, and immune signaling, and what governs the switch between them.
  • No unified model integrating import vs signaling vs tethering roles
  • Regulatory inputs (PTMs, partners) that select among functions not mapped
  • In vivo human disease mechanism only partially defined

Mechanism profile

Synthesis pass · controlled-vocabulary classification · explore literature graph →
Molecular activity
GO:0008092 cytoskeletal protein binding 4 GO:0038024 cargo receptor activity 3 GO:0060090 molecular adaptor activity 3 GO:0140096 catalytic activity, acting on a protein 2
Localization
GO:0005739 mitochondrion 2 GO:0005829 cytosol 2
Pathway
R-HSA-392499 Metabolism of proteins 3 R-HSA-9609507 Protein localization 3 R-HSA-168256 Immune System 2 R-HSA-1852241 Organelle biogenesis and maintenance 1
Complex memberships
TOM complex

Evidence

Reading pass · 37 per-paper findings extracted from the source corpus
Year Finding Method Journal Conf PMIDs
2003 Cytosolic chaperones Hsp90 and Hsp70 dock onto a specialized TPR domain in Tom70 at the outer mitochondrial membrane, delivering preproteins to the receptor for subsequent membrane translocation dependent on the Hsp90 ATPase. Disruption of chaperone/Tom70 recognition inhibits preprotein import into mitochondria. In mammals Hsp90 is used; in yeast Hsp70 is the primary partner. Co-immunoprecipitation, cross-linking, in vitro import assay, purified cytosolic fragment of Tom70 Cell High 12526792
1997 The purified cytosolic domain of Tom70 preferentially binds preproteins with internal targeting signals (not N-terminal presequences), and a synthetic presequence peptide does not compete for Tom70 binding (unlike Tom20/Tom22), demonstrating distinct binding specificity among import receptors. Purified recombinant cytosolic receptor domains, in vitro preprotein binding assay, competition with synthetic presequence peptide The Journal of biological chemistry High 9252394
1999 Tom70 binds to multiple segments within internal-targeting-signal-containing preproteins (e.g., phosphate carrier) distributed throughout the mature protein, but does not efficiently bind presequence segments. Both charged and uncharged peptides serve as Tom70 binding sites, indicating charge is not a critical determinant of internal targeting sequences. Cellulose-bound peptide scans (SPOT synthesis), binding of purified cytosolic receptor domains to overlapping 13-mer peptides The Journal of biological chemistry High 10347216
2000 A stably folded 25 kDa core domain in the middle portion of Tom70, containing two of its seven TPR motifs, is sufficient for binding non-cleavable and cleavable preproteins with internal targeting signals with the same specificity as full-length receptor. Competition studies showed at least one additional interaction site exists in full-length Tom70. Domain deletion/truncation, recombinant protein expression and purification, preprotein binding competition assay Journal of molecular biology High 11054285
2006 Hsp90 plays a role in import steps subsequent to Tom70 targeting: geldanamycin (N-terminal ATP-site inhibitor) had no effect on preprotein-Hsp90 interactions or Hsp90 docking onto Tom70 but impaired formation of preprotein import intermediates at the outer membrane, whereas novobiocin (C-terminal inhibitor) blocked Hsp90 cross-linking to preprotein and co-precipitation with Tom70. Hsp90 inhibitor treatment (geldanamycin, novobiocin), cross-linking, co-precipitation with purified cytosolic Tom70 fragment, in vitro import assay The Journal of biological chemistry High 16968702
2007 Multiple Hsp40-related J-domain proteins (DJA1, DJA2, DJA4) specifically bind preproteins (via their C-terminal regions) and cooperate with Hsc70 and Hsp90 in Tom70-dependent mitochondrial import. DJA dominant-negative mutants lacking J-domains blocked Hsc70 binding to preprotein and impaired mitochondrial import. The Hsp90 cochaperones p23 and Aha1 also regulated Hsp90-preprotein interactions. Mass spectrometry identification of chaperone complexes, dominant-negative mutant expression, Hsc70 ATPase activation assays, in vitro import assay in HeLa cells Molecular biology of the cell High 17596514
2009 Tom70 recognizes a set of presequence-containing precursor proteins whose mature regions are aggregate-prone; the receptor domain of Tom70 prevents aggregate formation of these substrates, maintaining their solubility for efficient transfer to downstream import machinery. Tom70 thus functions as a docking site for both cytosolic chaperones and aggregate-prone substrates. Proteome-wide in vitro import assay, aggregation prevention assay with purified Tom70 receptor domain The Journal of biological chemistry High 19767391
2009 Analytical ultracentrifugation and SAXS reveal that the cytosolic domain of Tom70 exists as an elongated monomer. Fluorescence anisotropy shows the monomer can simultaneously bind chaperone and precursor peptides; chaperone binding does not alter preprotein affinity or detectable shape change in the monomer. Molecular modeling indicates chaperone binding is incompatible with Tom70 dimer formation. Analytical ultracentrifugation, solution SAXS, fluorescence anisotropy, molecular modeling Journal of molecular biology High 19358854
2010 Human Tom70 functions as a monomer; the cytosolic fragment exists in equilibrium between monomer and dimer. A point mutation at the predicted dimer interface increased monomeric fraction and significantly enhanced preprotein targeting, whereas chaperone docking was unchanged. Cross-linking of full-length Tom70 on mitochondrial membranes shows little evidence of homodimers, indicating monomers are the functional unit. Analytical ultracentrifugation, cross-linking, size-exclusion chromatography, multi-angle light scattering, site-directed mutagenesis, in vitro preprotein targeting assay The Biochemical journal High 20504278
2010 Tom70 interacts with MAVS upon RNA virus infection and recruits TBK1/IRF3 to mitochondria via binding of Tom70's clamp domain (R192) to the C-terminal EEVD motif of Hsp90. Disruption of this interaction or mislocalization of Tom70 sharply impairs TBK1 and IRF3 activation. Tom70 acts as a critical adaptor linking MAVS to TBK1/IRF3. Co-immunoprecipitation, ectopic expression, siRNA knockdown, domain mutation (R192), reporter gene assay for IRF3-mediated gene expression Cell research High 20628368
2011 Tom20 interacts with the TPR clamp domain of Tom70 via a conserved C-terminal DDVE motif, competing with the chaperones Hsc70 and Hsp90 for Tom70 binding. This interaction was detected by cross-linking of endogenous proteins on HeLa mitochondria, co-precipitation, and NMR titrations. The functional interaction may facilitate preprotein release from chaperones by competition, constituting a chaperone displacement mechanism. Protein cross-linking on mitochondria, co-precipitation, NMR titration, surface plasmon resonance, site-directed mutagenesis of TPR clamp domain and DDVE motif The Journal of biological chemistry High 21771790
2015 Tom70 directly binds presequence peptides via a dedicated groove. A single point mutation M551R in this pocket reduces presequence binding affinity ten-fold and selectively impairs import of presequence-containing precursor Mdl1, but not the ADP/ATP carrier, demonstrating that Tom70 contributes to the presequence import pathway. Fluorescence binding assay with presequence peptides, site-directed mutagenesis (M551R), in vitro import assay Biochimica et biophysica acta High 25958336
2016 Cross-linking/mass spectrometry identified a novel region of contact between the C-terminal domain of Hsp90 and Tom70 beyond the canonical MEEVD/TPR interaction. A molecular model validated by SAXS and hydrogen/deuterium exchange indicates only one MEEVD motif within dimeric Hsp90 contacts Tom70. ITC confirmed the secondary interaction site affects preprotein import. Cross-linking/mass spectrometry, isothermal titration calorimetry, SAXS, hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, in vitro mitochondrial import assay The Journal of biological chemistry High 27402847
2018 Many preproteins contain internal MTS-like signals (iMTS-Ls) in their mature regions that mediate binding to Tom70. Using Atp1 as model substrate, iMTS-Ls mediate Tom70 binding and can target proteins to mitochondria when presented at the N-terminus. Import of preproteins with high iMTS-L content is significantly impaired in the absence of Tom70, supporting a stepping-stone model where Tom70-mediated internal binding improves import efficiency. In silico prediction of iMTS-Ls, in vitro import assay with Tom70 deletion, N-terminal fusion targeting experiments, binding assay The Journal of cell biology High 29382700
2018 TOM70 clusters in distinct OMM foci that frequently overlap with ER-mitochondria contact sites. TOM70 depletion specifically impairs IP3-linked ER-to-mitochondria Ca2+ transfer by interacting with IP3 receptors (IP3R3) and favoring their functional recruitment close to mitochondria. Reduced constitutive Ca2+ transfer dampens mitochondrial respiration, affects bioenergetics, induces autophagy, and inhibits proliferation. TOM20 depletion did not reproduce this phenotype. Live-cell imaging/super-resolution microscopy for localization, siRNA knockdown, Ca2+ imaging, co-immunoprecipitation with IP3R3, mitochondrial respiration assay Current biology : CB High 29395920
2021 The PERK kinase promotes cristae formation by increasing TOM70-assisted mitochondrial import of MIC19 (a MICOS complex subunit). Cold stress/β-adrenergic stimulation activates PERK, which phosphorylates OGT; phosphorylated OGT O-GlcNAcylates TOM70 on Ser94, enhancing MIC19 protein import and promoting cristae formation and respiration. CK2α-mediated phosphorylation of TOM70 Ser94 opposes this by decreasing MIC19 import. In vivo and in vitro reconstitution, OGT glycosylation assay, site-directed mutagenesis (Ser94), in vitro mitochondrial import assay, cryo-EM of cristae, genetic epistasis with PERK/OGT/CK2α Cell metabolism High 33592173
2021 Crystal structure of SARS-CoV-2 Orf9b in complex with the cytosolic segment of human TOM70 resolved to 2.2 Å. A central helical portion of Orf9b occupies the deep hydrophobic pocket of TOM70 C-terminal domain (CTD). The Orf9b dimer does not bind TOM70, but a monomeric C-peptide of Orf9b binds with nanomolar affinity (ITC). Orf9b binding to TOM70 CTD allosterically reduces Hsp90 EEVD binding to TOM70 NTD by ~29-fold, providing a structural mechanism for immune evasion. X-ray crystallography (2.2 Å), isothermal titration calorimetry, synthetic peptide binding assay Nature communications High 33990585
2021 The predominant function of Tom70 in vivo is to recruit cytosolic chaperones to the outer mitochondrial membrane, rather than to serve as a mitochondrion-specifying targeting receptor. Tethering an unrelated chaperone-binding domain onto the mitochondrial surface complemented most defects caused by Tom70 deletion, including reduction of proteotoxicity of hydrophobic inner membrane proteins. The chaperone-binding activity protects the cytosol from mitoprotein-induced stress. In vivo high-content screens, in vitro import experiments, Tom70 deletion combined with heterologous chaperone-binding domain tethering, proteotoxicity assays Cell reports High 33826901
2021 SARS-CoV-2 Orf9b binding to TOM70 inhibits Hsp90 recruitment to TOM70 and suppresses downstream chaperone-associated signaling. Orf9b Ser53 and TOM70 Glu477 are crucial residues for Orf9b-TOM70 association; the phosphomimetic Orf9b S53E shows drastically reduced TOM70 binding and does not inhibit Hsp90 recruitment, indicating phosphorylation regulates complex formation. A second binding site at the TOM70 N-terminal TPR domain was also identified. Site-directed mutagenesis, co-precipitation, chaperone recruitment assay, phosphomimetic variant analysis International journal of molecular sciences Medium 34502139
2013 Tom70 is essential for PINK1 import into mitochondria. Using a cell-free import system, PINK1 import was found to depend on Tom70 but not on Tom40 (the main import channel). PINK1 is not processed by the mitochondrial processing peptidase, indicating a unique import pathway that is independent of the TOM core complex but requires Tom70. Cell-free mitochondrial import assay, Tom70 knockdown, Tom40 knockdown/depletion, processing peptidase assay PloS one Medium 23472196
2006 Mcl-1 interacts with the mitochondrial import receptor Tom70 via an internal EELD domain. A Tom70 antibody blocking Mcl-1-Tom70 interaction inhibits mitochondrial import of Mcl-1 in vitro. Tom70 knockdown significantly reduces Mcl-1 mitochondrial targeting; mutation of the EELD motif attenuates Tom70 binding and mitochondrial targeting. Co-immunoprecipitation, in vitro import assay with blocking antibody, siRNA knockdown, site-directed mutagenesis of EELD motif Molecular biology of the cell Medium 16822835
2015 Tom70 recruits IRF3 to mitochondria via Hsp90 upon Sendai virus infection, forming a dynamic complex Tom70/Hsp90/IRF3/Bax. Bax interacts specifically with IRF3 upon virus infection, and relocation of Bax to mitochondria via this complex induces cytochrome c leakage and apoptosis. IKK-i is essential for this apoptosis whereas TBK1 is dispensable. Co-immunoprecipitation, subcellular fractionation, cytochrome c release assay, siRNA knockdown, ectopic expression Journal of virology Medium 25609812
2002 Rat Tom70 (OM70) functions as a receptor for preproteins with internal targeting signals (ADP/ATP carrier, rTOM40) but not for cleavable presequence-containing proteins. Blue native PAGE and immunoprecipitation show OM70 is loosely associated with the ~400 kDa TOM complex containing rTOM22 and rTOM40. Yeast two-hybrid showed OM70 interacts with rTOM20 and rTOM22 through cytoplasmic domains. The N-terminal 66-residue region including a transmembrane domain and arginine cluster is sufficient for mitochondrial targeting. Antibody inhibition of import, blue native PAGE, immunoprecipitation, yeast two-hybrid, in organello import assay Journal of cell science Medium 11956321
2011 Stoichiometry analysis revealed that one monomer of Tom70 interacts per dimer of the C-terminal domain of Hsp90 (containing the EEVD motif), with a KD of ~360 nM. This stoichiometry and thermodynamic profile differ from those of other TPR co-chaperones, indicating a distinct interaction mechanism between Tom70 and Hsp90. Isothermal titration calorimetry, size-exclusion chromatography, biophysical analysis Archives of biochemistry and biophysics Medium 21781956
2007 In yeast, Tom70 and its paralogue Tom71 are required for localization of the soluble F-box protein Mfb1 to mitochondria. Mfb1 interacts with Tom71 in vivo and binds to mitochondria through Tom70 in vitro. Cells lacking both Tom70 and Tom71 display aberrant mitochondrial morphology (short tubules and aggregates) similar to mfb1-null mutants, revealing an unexpected role for Tom70 in recruiting soluble proteins to the mitochondrial surface. In vivo co-immunoprecipitation (Mfb1-Tom71), in vitro mitochondrial binding assay, fluorescence microscopy of mitochondrial morphology, gene deletion EMBO reports Medium 18007655
2022 In budding yeast, Tom70 moonlights as a transcriptional regulator of mitochondrial protein genes, and this transcription-regulatory role is conserved in Drosophila. The dual roles in transcription and import allow cells to coordinate mitochondrial biogenesis without compromising cytosolic proteostasis. Age-related reduction of Tom70 is associated with loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, mtDNA, and mitochondrial proteins; Tom70 overexpression extends replicative lifespan. Genetic deletion and overexpression, transcriptional reporter assays, Drosophila genetic experiments, mitochondrial membrane potential and mtDNA measurements eLife Medium 35234609
2025 The 2.04 Å crystal structure of unliganded human TOM70 cytosolic domain reveals two distinct conformations—open and closed—within the asymmetric unit. HDX-MS and MD simulations confirm these states in solution. Network analyses identify a continuum of motion linking the NTD (chaperone-binding) and CTD (preprotein-binding) via helices α7, α8, and α25. Orf9b engagement of the CTD interrupts this allosteric network, stabilizing a partially-closed intermediate and dampening NTD dynamics. X-ray crystallography (2.04 Å), hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, molecular dynamics simulations, principal component analysis, dynamical network analysis Structure High 41386227
2025 The cytosolic chaperone PPID (cyclophilin 40/Cyp40) drives OMM insertion of TOM70 via its PPIase activity and C-terminal tetratricopeptide repeats, which show specificity towards TOM70 core and C-tail domains. This PPID-mediated TOM70 insertion regulates thermogenic/respiratory function in brown adipocytes and protects against diet-induced obesity in mice. In vitro reconstitution of OMM insertion, domain mutagenesis (PPIase activity mutation, TPR deletion), brown adipocyte functional assays, mouse obesity model Nature cell biology High 39753947
2025 In zebrafish, a missense mutation in tomm70 (affecting a conserved isoleucine corresponding to human TOMM70 p.Ile554Phe) impairs the interaction of Tomm70 with the ER sterol transporter Lam6, impairs mitochondrial transport to axons and dendrites, and causes demyelination of large-calibre spinal cord axons. These defects recapitulate features of hereditary spastic paraplegia. Zebrafish missense mutant model, co-immunoprecipitation (Tomm70-Lam6 interaction), fluorescence microscopy of mitochondrial axonal transport, electron microscopy of myelin Disease models & mechanisms Medium 40151845
2022 ORF9b forms a complex with TOM70 that prevents full-length Hsp90 from binding to TOM70. The isolated C-terminal domain of Hsp90 is also blocked by ORF9b occupying TOM70. Biophysical characterization shows ORF9b homodimer has ~22 kDa and random coil conformation, while the ORF9b-TOM70 complex is folded and more thermally stable than free TOM70. SEC-MALS, circular dichroism, differential scanning calorimetry, protein-protein interaction assay (co-expression and co-purification), pull-down Biochimie Medium 35643212
2025 Using cryo-EM, 19F NMR, and ITC, Orf9b inhibits Hsp90 binding to Tom70 through a bipartite steric-blocking mechanism: the helix and intrinsically disordered tail of Orf9b sterically block two distinct structural units of Hsp90 from accessing Tom70. Orf9b primarily slows the association kinetics between Hsp90 and Tom70, rather than acting through allosteric conformational changes in Tom70. Cryo-electron microscopy, 19F NMR spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry, kinetic binding analysis bioRxivpreprint High 41332678
2025 In yeast meiosis, Tom70 concentrates around the Gametogenesis-Uninherited Nuclear Compartment (GUNC) and tethers mitochondria to the nuclear envelope by recruiting the tethering protein Cnm1, independently of its canonical mitochondrial import function. Loss of Tom70 disrupts sequestration of nuclear pore complexes into the GUNC, and loss of Cnm1 partially phenocopies tom70Δ. Fluorescence live-cell imaging, gene deletion (tom70Δ, cnm1Δ), genetic epistasis, subcellular fractionation bioRxivpreprint Medium 41332789
2023 ASFV protein p17 promotes mitophagy by facilitating the interaction of autophagy receptor SQSTM1 with TOMM70. Co-immunoprecipitation/mass spectrometry identified TOMM70 as a p17-interacting protein. The p17-TOMM70 interaction enhances SQSTM1 binding to TOMM70, leading to mitochondrial engulfment by autophagosomes and degradation of mitochondrial antiviral signaling proteins. Co-immunoprecipitation/mass spectrometry, co-immunoprecipitation, mitophagy assay (autophagosome engulfment, mitochondrial counts), siRNA knockdown Virulence Medium 37442088
2014 Tom70 downregulation in pathological hypertrophic hearts causes defective mitochondrial import of OPA1, triggering intracellular oxidative stress and pathological cardiac hypertrophy. Overexpression of Tom70 confers resistance to pro-hypertrophic insults. Tom70 thus acts as a molecular switch orchestrating hypertrophic stress and mitochondrial responses. siRNA knockdown and lentiviral overexpression in vivo/in vitro, mitochondrial import assay for OPA1, ROS measurement, echocardiography Cell research Medium 25022898
2020 De novo loss-of-function variants in TOMM70 (p.Thr607Ile, p.Ile554Phe) cause neurological impairment. In a Drosophila model replacing Tom70 with human TOMM70, both variants provided significantly less rescue of lethality than reference TOMM70. RNAi knockdown of Tom70 in the developing eye caused roughening and synaptic transmission defects rescued by reference but not variant TOMM70. CRISPR-Cas9 humanized Drosophila model, UAS-GAL4 rescue assay, RNAi knockdown, synaptic transmission electrophysiology Human molecular genetics Medium 32356556
2017 Tom70 governs the mitochondrial localization of MICU1 (mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake regulator). Tom70 knockdown reduces mitochondrial MICU1 content, worsens MI/R-induced mitochondrial Ca2+ overload, and exacerbates myocardial injury. Tom70 overexpression preserves mitochondrial MICU1, which is required for Tom70's cardioprotective effects. siRNA knockdown, lentiviral overexpression, mitochondrial fractionation, Ca2+ measurement, in vivo MI/R mouse model Cell death & disease Medium 28703803
2024 Proximity labeling (APEX2) shows that human TOMM70 and TOMM20 have differential association profiles with RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and translation factors, with several RBPs (including SYNJ2BP) preferentially associating with TOMM20 over TOMM70. During translation stress (puromycin), RBP association increases specifically with TOMM20, suggesting TOMM70 does not share this role in preserving hemostasis during translation stress. APEX2-based proximity labeling, quantitative mass spectrometry, puromycin translation inhibition bioRxivpreprint Medium bio_10.1101_2024.10.25.620316

Source papers

Stage 0 corpus · 67 papers · ranked by NIH iCite citations
Year Title Journal Citations PMID
2003 Molecular chaperones Hsp90 and Hsp70 deliver preproteins to the mitochondrial import receptor Tom70. Cell 731 12526792
1997 Differential recognition of preproteins by the purified cytosolic domains of the mitochondrial import receptors Tom20, Tom22, and Tom70. The Journal of biological chemistry 230 9252394
1999 Distribution of binding sequences for the mitochondrial import receptors Tom20, Tom22, and Tom70 in a presequence-carrying preprotein and a non-cleavable preprotein. The Journal of biological chemistry 197 10347216
2010 Tom70 mediates activation of interferon regulatory factor 3 on mitochondria. Cell research 144 20628368
2018 Tom70 enhances mitochondrial preprotein import efficiency by binding to internal targeting sequences. The Journal of cell biology 141 29382700
2018 TOM70 Sustains Cell Bioenergetics by Promoting IP3R3-Mediated ER to Mitochondria Ca2+ Transfer. Current biology : CB 135 29395920
2021 Crystal structure of SARS-CoV-2 Orf9b in complex with human TOM70 suggests unusual virus-host interactions. Nature communications 114 33990585
2009 Roles of Tom70 in import of presequence-containing mitochondrial proteins. The Journal of biological chemistry 100 19767391
2021 A cold-stress-inducible PERK/OGT axis controls TOM70-assisted mitochondrial protein import and cristae formation. Cell metabolism 97 33592173
2006 Hsp90 functions in the targeting and outer membrane translocation steps of Tom70-mediated mitochondrial import. The Journal of biological chemistry 92 16968702
2021 The chaperone-binding activity of the mitochondrial surface receptor Tom70 protects the cytosol against mitoprotein-induced stress. Cell reports 83 33826901
2000 The mitochondrial import receptor Tom70: identification of a 25 kDa core domain with a specific binding site for preproteins. Journal of molecular biology 82 11054285
2006 The C-terminal TPR domain of Tom70 defines a family of mitochondrial protein import receptors found only in animals and fungi. Journal of molecular biology 79 16566938
2007 Multiple 40-kDa heat-shock protein chaperones function in Tom70-dependent mitochondrial import. Molecular biology of the cell 75 17596514
2020 The Mitochondrial Outer Membrane Protein Tom70-Mediator in Protein Traffic, Membrane Contact Sites and Innate Immunity. International journal of molecular sciences 71 33019591
2002 Characterization of rat TOM70 as a receptor of the preprotein translocase of the mitochondrial outer membrane. Journal of cell science 69 11956321
1996 Tom71, a novel homologue of the mitochondrial preprotein receptor Tom70. The Journal of biological chemistry 68 8663394
2016 Melatonin attenuates postmyocardial infarction injury via increasing Tom70 expression. Journal of pineal research 66 27706848
2003 Isolation and characterization of an IgNAR variable domain specific for the human mitochondrial translocase receptor Tom70. European journal of biochemistry 58 12919318
2013 Tom70 is essential for PINK1 import into mitochondria. PloS one 54 23472196
2017 MICU1 protects against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury and its control by the importer receptor Tom70. Cell death & disease 52 28703803
2014 Tom70 serves as a molecular switch to determine pathological cardiac hypertrophy. Cell research 50 25022898
2011 Function of cytosolic chaperones in Tom70-mediated mitochondrial import. Protein and peptide letters 48 20955164
2011 Interaction between the human mitochondrial import receptors Tom20 and Tom70 in vitro suggests a chaperone displacement mechanism. The Journal of biological chemistry 48 21771790
1997 Mutations in genes encoding the mitochondrial outer membrane proteins Tom70 and Mdm10 of Podospora anserina modify the spectrum of mitochondrial DNA rearrangements associated with cellular death. Molecular and cellular biology 42 9343397
2006 An internal EELD domain facilitates mitochondrial targeting of Mcl-1 via a Tom70-dependent pathway. Molecular biology of the cell 39 16822835
2009 Domain organization of the monomeric form of the Tom70 mitochondrial import receptor. Journal of molecular biology 38 19358854
2015 A presequence-binding groove in Tom70 supports import of Mdl1 into mitochondria. Biochimica et biophysica acta 37 25958336
2016 Heat Shock Protein 90 kDa (Hsp90) Has a Second Functional Interaction Site with the Mitochondrial Import Receptor Tom70. The Journal of biological chemistry 36 27402847
2007 Tetratricopeptide repeat proteins Tom70 and Tom71 mediate yeast mitochondrial morphogenesis. EMBO reports 35 18007655
2022 Tom70-based transcriptional regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis and aging. eLife 33 35234609
2020 De novo mutations in TOMM70, a receptor of the mitochondrial import translocase, cause neurological impairment. Human molecular genetics 33 32356556
2015 Tom70 mediates Sendai virus-induced apoptosis on mitochondria. Journal of virology 33 25609812
2021 Phosphorylation of SARS-CoV-2 Orf9b Regulates Its Targeting to Two Binding Sites in TOM70 and Recruitment of Hsp90. International journal of molecular sciences 31 34502139
2020 Mutations in TOMM70 lead to multi-OXPHOS deficiencies and cause severe anemia, lactic acidosis, and developmental delay. Journal of human genetics 30 31907385
1999 Identification of a mammalian homologue of the fungal Tom70 mitochondrial precursor protein import receptor as a thyroid hormone-regulated gene in specific brain regions. Journal of neurochemistry 24 10582581
2004 A biophysical analysis of the tetratricopeptide repeat-rich mitochondrial import receptor, Tom70, reveals an elongated monomer that is inherently flexible, unstable, and unfolds via a multistate pathway. The Journal of biological chemistry 23 15316022
1999 Inactivation of the Neurospora crassa mitochondrial outer membrane protein TOM70 by repeat-induced point mutation (RIP) causes defects in mitochondrial protein import and morphology. Current genetics 23 10501936
2023 African swine fever virus protein p17 promotes mitophagy by facilitating the interaction of SQSTM1 with TOMM70. Virulence 21 37442088
2022 Binding of SARS-CoV-2 protein ORF9b to mitochondrial translocase TOM70 prevents its interaction with chaperone HSP90. Biochimie 18 35643212
2011 Stoichiometry and thermodynamics of the interaction between the C-terminus of human 90kDa heat shock protein Hsp90 and the mitochondrial translocase of outer membrane Tom70. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics 18 21781956
2010 A functional Tom70 in the human parasite Blastocystis sp.: implications for the evolution of the mitochondrial import apparatus. Molecular biology and evolution 18 20871025
2006 Distinct functional contributions of 2 GABP-NRF-2 recognition sites within the context of the human TOMM70 promoter. Biochemistry and cell biology = Biochimie et biologie cellulaire 18 17167546
2024 Dihydroartemisinin-driven TOM70 inhibition leads to mitochondrial destabilization to induce pyroptosis against lung cancer. Phytotherapy research : PTR 16 38761036
2023 Tom70-regulated mitochondrial biogenesis via TFAM improves hypoxia-induced dysfunction of pulmonary vascular endothelial cells and alleviates hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. Respiratory research 15 38093274
2001 Overproduction of PDR3 suppresses mitochondrial import defects associated with a TOM70 null mutation by increasing the expression of TOM72 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Molecular and cellular biology 15 11604494
2020 Tom70 protects against diabetic cardiomyopathy through its antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties. Hypertension research : official journal of the Japanese Society of Hypertension 14 32724135
2010 Human mitochondrial import receptor Tom70 functions as a monomer. The Biochemical journal 14 20504278
1998 Interaction between mitochondrial precursor proteins and cytosolic soluble domains of mitochondrial import receptors, Tom20 and Tom70, measured by surface plasmon resonance. Biochemical and biophysical research communications 13 9918781
2002 Characterization of a human import component of the mitochondrial outer membrane, TOMM70A. Cell communication & adhesion 11 12200962
2020 Dexamethasone upregulates mitochondrial Tom20, Tom70, and MnSOD through SGK1 in the kidney cells. Journal of physiology and biochemistry 9 33201408
2006 Tracking the unfolding pathway of a multirepeat protein via tryptophan scanning: evidence of localized instability in the mitochondrial import receptor Tom70. The Journal of biological chemistry 8 16803880
2022 Positive regulation of endothelial Tom70 by metformin as a new mechanism against cardiac microvascular injury in diabetes. Mitochondrion 5 35779798
2008 In vitro methylation of nuclear respiratory factor-2 binding sites suppresses the promoter activity of the human TOMM70 gene. Gene 5 18852034
2024 The TOM complex from an evolutionary perspective and the functions of TOMM70. Biological chemistry 4 39092472
2025 Chaperone-mediated insertion of mitochondrial import receptor TOM70 protects against diet-induced obesity. Nature cell biology 3 39753947
2025 Patient-specific mutation of contact site protein Tomm70 causes neurodegeneration. Disease models & mechanisms 2 40151845
2025 Hyperoside alleviates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in heart transplantation by promoting mitochondrial fusion via activating the Stat3-Tom70-Opa1 pathway. Frontiers in pharmacology 2 40978492
2025 Molecular mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 Orf9b suppresses the Tom70-Hsp90 interaction to evade innate immunity. bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology 2 41332678
2025 An allosteric network governs Tom70 conformational dynamics to coordinate mitochondrial import. Structure (London, England : 1993) 2 41386227
2026 TOM70-Mitochondrial Pathway Reduction Mediates DEHP-Induced Neuroinflammation in Mice. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 1 41525161
2025 An allosteric network governs Tom70 conformational dynamics to coordinate mitochondrial protein import. bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology 1 40777325
2025 Tom70-mediated mitochondria-nuclear envelope contacts regulate nuclear pore complex inheritance during gametogenesis. bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology 1 41332789
2026 Inhibiting the interaction between the mitochondrial receptor Tom70 and SARS CoV 2 Orf9b with small molecules. bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology 0 42094357
2025 AHSA1/Hsp90α Complex Facilitates Microglial Mitophagy by Targeting TOMM70 in Parkinson Disease. The American journal of pathology 0 40685075
2025 Tom70 prevents fibrotic activation of aortic valve interstitial cells via EPA-activated Autophagic flux. Biochimica et biophysica acta. Molecular basis of disease 0 41027514
2025 Curcumin-mediated photodynamic action disturbs TOM70-depedent MIC60 import to damage mitonchondria against breast cancer. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology 0 41418387

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