Acidification asymmetrically affects voltage-dependent anion channel implicating the involvement of salt bridges.

ABSTRACT: The voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) is the major pathway for ATP, ADP, and other respiratory substrates through the mitochondrial outer membrane, constituting a crucial point of mitochondrial metabolism regulation. VDAC is characterized by its ability to "gate" between an open and several "closed" states under applied voltage. In the early stages of tumorigenesis or during ischemia, partial or total absence of oxygen supply to cells results in cytosolic acidification. Motivated by these facts, we investigated the effects of pH variations on VDAC gating properties. We reconstituted VDAC into planar lipid membranes and found that acidification reversibly increases its voltage-dependent gating. Furthermore, both VDAC anion selectivity and single channel conductance increased with acidi

SUBMITTER: Teijido O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4156087 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature