Genetic dissection of the permeability transition pore

Michael Forte, Paolo Bernardi

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

70 Scopus citations

Abstract

The permeability transition pore (PTP) regulates the structural re-organization of mitochondria in response to changes in cellular Ca 2+ and is thought to be an important participant in mitochondrial responses to cell death signals. Although the proteins forming the PTP have yet to be rigorously identified, recent examination of the response of mitochondria, cells and tissues lacking putative components of the PTP have been reported. Studies on mitochondria lacking cyclophilin D (CyP-D) have proved that this protein is the target for PTP inhibition by CsA; yet they have also unequivocally demonstrated that the PTP can form and open in the absence of CyP-D. Likewise, studies in mice lacking the two adenine nucleotide translocators expressed in this species have shown that a functional PTP can form in the absence of these proteins. Thus, the inner mitochondrial membrane components of the PTP remain to be identified, and the absence of CyP-D may not preclude PTP opening in vivo - a finding that questions the conclusion that the PTP participates in cell death pathways only in response to a restricted set of challenges.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)121-128
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes
Volume37
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2005

Keywords

  • "Knock-out" mice
  • Adenine nucleotide translocator
  • Apoptosis
  • Calcium
  • Cell death
  • Cyclophilin D
  • Necrosis
  • Permeability transition pore

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Cell Biology

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