Involved in protein precursor import into chloroplasts. Imported into the intermembrane space via the Toc translocon. May be involved in the import pathway used by proteins without a cleavable N-terminal pre-sequence. Part of the Tic complex. Interacts with TIC20 and with the Toc complex. Interacts with TIC32 during its import into the chloroplast. The N-terminus (1-54) is necessary and sufficient for targeting to the intermembrane space by an import pathway that is distinct from the general import pathway utilized by stromal preproteins. Belongs to the Tic22 family.