Transmembrane protein 223 (TMEM223)

Transmembrane protein 223 (TMEM223) is a conserved, integral membrane protein localized to the mitochondrial inner membrane, with its N- and C-termini exposed to the matrix. It is a member of the TMEM70/TMEM186/TMEM223 protein family and functions as a mitochondrial ribosome-associated factor essential for the early steps of cytochrome c oxidase (complex IV) assembly. TMEM223 stimulates the translation of mitochondrial-encoded COX1 mRNA and is a constituent of early COX1 assembly intermediates. Loss of TMEM223 in human cells impairs cytochrome c oxidase activity by reducing COX1 synthesis but does not entirely abolish complex IV assembly, suggesting partial redundancy with other assembly factors. TMEM223 is not known to act as a classical therapeutic target (receptor, transporter, enzyme), and there are no reported direct drug interactions or clinical biomarker applications.

Other names

TMEM223Transmembrane protein 223MGC3196Mrx15TM223 (UniProt recommended symbol)HGNC:28464

Not applicable (no drugs target this protein directly; it acts as a biogenesis/assembly factor for complex IV of mitochondrial OXPHOS)