Component of the TOM (translocase of outer membrane) complex; responsible for recognition and the initial import steps for all mitochondrially-directed proteins; phosphorylation by the CLB3-CDC28 kinase complex in G2/M phase stimulates import of Tom6p into mitochondrial where it promotes assembly and stability of the TOM protein import channel, and the import of mitochondrial GTPases, Fzo1p and Mgm1p