The chemical reactions and pathways resulting in the breakdown of a mitochondrial protein. This process is necessary to maintain the healthy state of mitochondria and is thought to occur via the induction of an intramitochondrial lysosome-like organelle that acts to eliminate the damaged oxidised mitochondrial proteins without destroying the mitochondrial structure. [GOC:sp, PMID:21264221, PMID:21264228]
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C5: Ontology GO: Gene Ontology GO:BP: GO Biological Process