The nascent polypeptide-associated complex (NAC) promotes interaction of ribosomes with the mitochondrial surface in vivo

The nascent polypeptide-associated complex (NAC) is a peripheral component of cytoplasmic ribosomes, and interacts with nascent chains as they leave the ribosome. Yeast mutants lacking NAC translate polypeptides normally, but have fewer ribosomes associated with the mitochondrial surface. The mutants lacking NAC suffer mitochondrial defects and have decreased levels of proteins like fumarase, normally targeted to mitochondria co-translationally. NAC might contribute to a ribosomal environment in which amino-terminal, mitochondrial targeting sequences can effectively adopt their appropriate conformation.