Chaperone-protease networks in mitochondrial protein homeostasis

► Description of the relevance and principles of mitochondrial protein homeostasis. ► Mitochondrial chaperones are required for protein import and folding reactions of precursor proteins. ► Stabilization and refolding of damaged polypeptides by chaperones maintain mitochondrial functions under stress conditions. ► Degradation of damaged polypeptides by ATP-dependent proteases avoids the accumulation of protein aggregates.