Part of a mitoribosome-associated quality control pathway that prevents aberrant translation by responding to interruptions during elongation (PubMed:33243891). As heterodimer with MTRES1, ejects the unfinished nascent chain and peptidyl transfer RNA (tRNA), respectively, from stalled ribosomes. Recruitment of mitoribosome biogenesis factors to these quality control intermediates suggests additional roles for MTRES1 and MTRF during mitoribosome rescue (PubMed:33243891). Interacts (via C-terminus) with MTRES1 (via S4 domain) (PubMed:33243891). Associates with mitoribosomal S39 large subunit, peptidyl tRNA and nascent chain (PubMed:33243891). Expressed in all areas of the brain tested. The GGQ domain interacts with the peptidyltransferase center (PTC) of the large ribosomal subunit to trigger nascent chain hydrolysis. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. Belongs to the prokaryotic/mitochondrial release factor family. In contrast to other members of the family, lacks the regions that come into close contact with the mRNA in the ribosomal A-site and determine the STOP codon specificity, suggesting a loss of codon specificity for translation release factor activity.