This domain of unknown function is found at the C terminal end of Mitochondrial small ribosomal subunit protein mS38, also known as Mitochondrial mRNA-processing protein COX24 in yeast which is involved in the splicing of the COX1 mRNA [1]. COX24 is a component of the mitochondrial ribosome (mitoribosome), responsible for the synthesis of mitochondrial genome-encoded proteins, including at least some of the essential transmembrane subunits of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. The mitoribosomes are attached to the mitochondrial inner membrane and translation products are cotranslationally integrated into the membrane [2,3]. This domain is also found in COX24 mammalian homologue Aurora kinase A-interacting protein [4]. This entry also includes uncharacterised proteins from bacteria.

1: COX24 codes for a mitochondrial protein required for processing of the COX1 transcript. Barros MH, Myers AM, Van Driesche S, Tzagoloff A; J Biol Chem. 2006;281:3743-3751. PMID:16339141

2: Organization of the mitochondrial translation machinery studied in situ by cryoelectron tomography. Pfeffer S, Woellhaf MW, Herrmann JM, Forster F; Nat Commun. 2015;6:6019. PMID:25609543

3: The structure of the yeast mitochondrial ribosome. Desai N, Brown A, Amunts A, Ramakrishnan V; Science. 2017;355:528-531. PMID:28154081

4: Aurora-A kinase interacting protein 1 (AURKAIP1) promotes Aurora-A degradation through an alternative ubiquitin-independent pathway. Lim SK, Gopalan G; Biochem J. 2007;403:119-127. PMID:17125467