Essential for mitochondrial network organization, mitochondrial metabolism and cell growth at organism and cellular level. May play an important role in mitochondrial protein synthesis. May also participate in mitochondrial DNA replication. May bind to mitochondrial DNA D-loops and contribute to nucleoid stability. Required for enhanced channeling of cholesterol for hormone-dependent steroidogenesis (By similarity). In the mitochondrial inner membrane, enriched in sites with the potential to form contacts with the outer membrane. The N-terminal domain interacts with the inner surface of the mitochondrial outer membrane and the C-terminal domain localizes in a specific matrix compartment, where it is associated with nucleoids (By similarity). Belongs to the AAA ATPase family.