TOMM5 is a component of the translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane (TOM) complex, which is essential for recognizing and translocating cytosolically synthesized mitochondrial preproteins into mitochondria 1. The protein plays a critical role in PINK1-mediated mitophagy, where TOM complex components including TOMM5 are required for PINK1 retention on the mitochondrial surface during mitochondrial damage sensing 1. When mitochondria lose membrane potential due to damage, PINK1 import is stalled during transfer from TOM to TIM23, causing accumulation at the outer membrane where it can trigger downstream mitophagy pathways 1. TOMM5 deficiency in mice causes a lung-specific phenotype resembling cryptogenic organizing pneumonia, characterized by widespread intra-alveolar fibrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration 2. The gene has emerged as a potential biomarker in several disease contexts, including hepatocellular carcinoma prognosis prediction 3, intervertebral disc degeneration diagnosis 4, and polycystic ovary syndrome 5. Additionally, TOMM5 expression shows altered ribosome occupancy patterns in Huntington disease models, suggesting involvement in mitochondrial translation regulation 6.