Rapid changes of mitochondrial Ca2+ revealed by specifically targeted recombinant aequorin

Rizzuto et al. (1992). Nature DOI: 10.1038/358325a0 Citations: 934

Parts used

COX8 MTS

Key findings

  • Demonstrated that the N-terminal targeting sequence (MTS) of cytochrome c oxidase subunit VIII (COX8) efficiently directs heterologous proteins to the mitochondrial matrix in mammalian cells. Fused the COX8 MTS to aequorin to measure mitochondrial calcium. The COX8 MTS (first 25 aa) became the standard mitochondria-targeting sequence for engineered constructs.