Mitochondrial targeting sequences may form amphiphilic helices.

Twenty three mitochondrial targeting sequences have been analysed with regard to their potential for forming amphiphilic helices. It is shown that most if not all of these sequences can be expected to form helices with high hydrophobic moments in a suitable environment. In the few cases studied so far, the segments of maximal hydrophobic moment coincide closely with 'critical' regions defined by deletions and point mutations.