Cardiolipin and phosphatidylglycerol are not required for the in vivo action of Bcl-2 family proteins.
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Apoptosis↗
Biomedical subjects
E Blachly-Dyson
Publications and source records attributed to E Blachly-Dyson.
Biogenesis of porin of the outer mitochondrial membrane involves an import pathway via receptors and the general import pore of the TOM complex.
Porin, also termed the voltage-dependent anion channel, is the most abundant protein of the mitochondrial outer membrane. The process of import and assembly of the protein is known to be dependent on the surface receptor Tom20, but the requirement for other mitochondrial proteins remains controversial. We have used mitochondria from Neurospora crassa and Saccharomyces cerevisiae to analyze the import pathway of porin. Import of porin into isolated mitochondria in which the outer membrane has been opened is inhibited despite similar levels of Tom20 as in intact mitochondria. A matrix-destined precursor and the porin precursor compete for the same translocation sites in both normal mitochondria and mitochondria whose surface receptors have been removed, suggesting that both precursors utilize the general import pore. Using an assay established to monitor the assembly of in vitro-imported porin into preexisting porin complexes we have shown that besides Tom20, the biogenesis of porin depends on the central receptor Tom22, as well as Tom5 and Tom7 of the general import pore complex (translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane [TOM] core complex). The characterization of two new mutant alleles of the essential pore protein Tom40 demonstrates that the import of porin also requires a functional Tom40. Moreover, the porin precursor can be cross-linked to Tom20, Tom22, and Tom40 on its import pathway. We conclude that import of porin does not proceed through the action of Tom20 alone, but requires an intact outer membrane and involves at least four more subunits of the TOM machinery, including the general import pore.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Biochemical and genetic analysis of the mitochondrial response of yeast to BAX and BCL-X(L).
The BCL-2 family includes both proapoptotic (e.g., BAX and BAK) and antiapoptotic (e.g., BCL-2 and BCL-X(L)) molecules. The cell death-regulating activity of BCL-2 members appears to depend on their ability to modulate mitochondrial function, which may include regulation of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP). We examined the function of BAX and BCL-X(L) using genetic and biochemical approaches in budding yeast because studies with yeast suggest that BCL-2 family members act upon highly conserved mitochondrial components. In this study we found that in wild-type yeast, BAX induced hyperpolarization of mitochondria, production of reactive oxygen species, growth arrest, and cell death; however, cytochrome c was not released detectably despite the induction of mitochondrial dysfunction. Coexpression of BCL-X(L) prevented all BAX-mediated responses. We also assessed the function of BCL-X(L) and BAX in the same strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with deletions of selected mitochondrial proteins that have been implicated in the function of BCL-2 family members. BAX-induced growth arrest was independent of the tested mitochondrial components, including voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC), the catalytic beta subunit or the delta subunit of the F(0)F(1)-ATP synthase, mitochondrial cyclophilin, cytochrome c, and proteins encoded by the mitochondrial genome as revealed by [rho(0)] cells. In contrast, actual cell killing was dependent upon select mitochondrial components including the beta subunit of ATP synthase and mitochondrial genome-encoded proteins but not VDAC. The BCL-X(L) protection from either BAX-induced growth arrest or cell killing proved to be independent of mitochondrial components. Thus, BAX induces two cellular processes in yeast which can each be abrogated by BCL-X(L): cell arrest, which does not require aspects of mitochondrial biochemistry, and cell killing, which does.
Apoptosis↗
The topology of VDAC as probed by biotin modification.
The outer membrane of mitochondria contains channels called VDAC (mitochondrial porin), which are formed by a single 30-kDa protein. Cysteine residues introduced by site-directed mutagenesis at sites throughout Neurospora crassa VDAC (naturally devoid of cysteine) were specifically biotinylated prior to reconstitution into planar phospholipid membranes. From previous studies, binding of streptavidin to single biotinylated sites results in one of two effects: reduced single-channel conductance without blockage of voltage gating (type 1) or locking of the channels in a closed conformation (type 2). All sites react with streptavidin only from one side of the membrane. Here, we extend this approach to VDAC molecules containing two cysteines and determine the location of each biotinylated residue with respect to the other within the membrane. When a combination of a type 1 and a type 2 site was used, each site could be observed to react with streptavidin. Two sets of sites located on opposite surfaces of the membrane were identified, thereby establishing the transmembrane topology of VDAC. A revised folding pattern for VDAC, consisting of 1 alpha helix and 13 beta strands, is proposed by combining these results with previously obtained information on which sites are lining the aqueous pore.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Bacterial expression and characterization of the mitochondrial outer membrane channel. Effects of n-terminal modifications.
Several forms of the voltage-dependent anion-selective channel (VDAC) have been expressed at high yield in Escherichia coli. Full-length constructs of the proteins of Neurospora crassa and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ncVDAC and scVDAC) have been made with 20-residue-long, thrombin-cleavable, His6-containing N-terminal extensions. ncVDAC purified from bacteria or mitochondria displays a far-UV CD spectrum (in 1% lauryl dimethylamine oxide at pH 6-8) similar to that of bacterial porins, indicating extensive beta-sheet structure. Under the same conditions, the CD spectrum of bacterially expressed scVDAC indicates lower beta-sheet content, albeit higher than that of mitochondrial scVDAC under the same conditions. In phospholipid bilayers, the bacterially expressed proteins (with or without N-terminal extensions) form typical VDAC-like channels with stable, large conductance open states (4-4.5 nanosiemens in 1 M KCl) and voltage-dependent transitions to a predominant substate (about 2 nanosiemens). A variant of scVDAC missing the first eight residues and having no N-terminal extension also has been expressed in E. coli. The truncated protein has a CD spectrum similar to that of mitochondrial scVDAC, but its channel activity is abnormal, exhibiting an unstable open state and rapid transitions between multiple subconductance levels.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
The role of yeast VDAC genes on the permeability of the mitochondrial outer membrane.
In addition to the POR1 gene, which encodes the well-characterized voltage dependent anion-selective channel (YVDAC1) of the mitochondrial outer membrane, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains a second gene (POR2) encoding a protein (YVDAC2) with 50% sequence identity to YVDAC1. Mitochondria isolated from yeast cells deleted for the POR1 gene (delta por1) had a profoundly reduced outer membrane permeability as measured by the ability of an intermembrane space dehydrogenase to oxidize exogenously added NADH. Mitochondria missing either YVDAC1 or both YVDAC1 and YVDAC2 showed a 2-fold increase in the rate of NADH oxidation when the outer membrane was deliberately damaged. Mitochondria from parental cells showed only a 10% increase indicating that the outer membrane is highly permeable to NADH. In the absence of YVDAC1, we calculate that the outer membrane permeability to NADH is reduced 20-fold. The low NADH permeability in the presence of YVDAC2 was not due to the low levels of YVDAC2 expression as mitochondria from cells expressing levels of YVDAC2 comparable to those of YVDAC1 in parental cells showed no substantial increase in NADH permeability, indicating a minimal role of YVDAC2 in this permeability. The residual permeability may be due to other pathways because cells missing both genes can still grow on nonfermentable carbon sources. However, YVDAC1 is clearly the major pathway for NADH flux through the outer membrane in these mitochondria.
Genes, Fungal↗
The sensor regions of VDAC are translocated from within the membrane to the surface during the gating processes.
The motion of the sensor regions in a mitochondrial voltage-gated channel called VDAC were probed by attaching biotin at specific locations and determining its ability to bind to added streptavidin. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to introduce single cysteine residues into Neurospora crassa VDAC (naturally lacks cysteine). These were chemically biotinylated and reconstituted into planar phospholipid membranes. In the 19 sites examined, only two types of results were observed upon streptavidin addition: in type 1, channel conductance was reduced, but voltage gating could proceed; in type 2, channels were locked in a closed state. The result at type 1 sites is interpreted as streptavidin binding to sites in static regions close to the channel opening. The binding sterically interferes with ion flow. The result at type 2 sites indicates that these are located on a mobile domain and coincide with the previously identified sensor regions. The findings are consistent with closure resulting from the movement of a domain from within the transmembrane regions to the membrane surface. No single site was accessible to streptavidin from both membrane surfaces, indicating that the motion is limited. From the streptavidin-induced reduction in conductance at type 1 sites, structural information was obtained about the location of these sites.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Cloning and molecular characterization of a voltage-dependent anion-selective channel (VDAC) from Drosophila melanogaster.
A full length voltage-dependent anion-selective channel (VDAC) cDNA was cloned from Drosophila melanogaster by expression library screening using an antibody against an insect VDAC protein. The cDNA clone (denoted DmVDAC) is 1082 base pairs (bp) in length and contains an open reading frame (bp 62-907) encoding a 282 amino acid protein which has a predicted molecular mass of 30550 Da, a predicted pI of 6.98 and no cysteines. Hydrophobicity analysis suggests 15 or 16 membrane-spanning domains. The DmVDAC amino acid sequence has variable homology with VDACs from other species ranging from 62% identity with a human VDAC to 23% identity with a Dictyostelium discoideum VDAC. DmVDAC has 92% identity with the 38 conserved residues in a VDAC consensus sequence. DmVDAC was expressed in VDAC-null yeast but failed to rescue viability. DmVDAC has 88% identity at the amino acid level and 99% identity at the nucleic acid level with a recently reported D. melanogaster VDAC sequence (A. Messina et al., FEBS Lett. 384 (1996) 9-13). Homology analyses with the Messina and other VDAC sequences indicate that the amino acid differences are due to minor errors in the Messina sequence. Southern blots and chromosomal in situ hybridizations suggest a single VDAC gene occurs in the fly with a locus at 32B on the left arm of the second chromosome.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Multicopy suppressors of phenotypes resulting from the absence of yeast VDAC encode a VDAC-like protein.
The permeability of the outer mitochondrial membrane to most metabolites is believed to be based in an outer membrane, channel-forming protein known as VDAC (voltage-dependent anion channel). Although multiple isoforms of VDAC have been identified in multicellular organisms, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been thought to contain a single VDAC gene, designated POR1. However, cells missing the POR1 gene (delta por1) were able to grow on yeast media containing a nonfermentable carbon source (glycerol) but not on such media at elevated temperature (37 degrees C). If VDAC normally provides the pathway for metabolites to pass through the outer membrane, some other protein(s) must be able to partially substitute for that function. To identify proteins that could functionally substitute for POR1, we have screened a yeast genomic library for genes which, when overexpressed, can correct the growth defect of delta por1 yeast grown on glycerol at 37 degrees C. This screen identified a second yeast VDAC gene, POR2, encoding a protein (YVDAC2) with 49% amino acid sequence identity to the previously identified yeast VDAC protein (YVDAC1). YVDAC2 can functionally complement defects present in delta por1 strains only when it is overexpressed. Deletion of the POR2 gene alone had no detectable phenotype, while yeasts with deletions of both the POR1 and POR2 genes were viable and able to grow on glycerol at 30 degrees C, albeit more slowly than delta por1 single mutants. Like delta por1 single mutants, they could not grow on glycerol at 37 degrees C. Subcellular fractionation studies with antibodies which distinguish YVDAC1 and YVDAC2 indicate that YVDAC2 is normally present in the outer mitochondrial membrane. However, no YVDAC2 channels were detected electrophysiologically in reconstituted systems. Therefore, mitochondrial membranes made from wild-type cells, delta por1 cells, delta por1 delta por2 cells, and delta por1 cells overexpressing YVDAC2 were incorporated into liposomes and the permeability of resulting liposomes to nonelectrolytes of different sizes was determined. The results indicate that YVDAC2 does not confer any additional permeability to these liposomes, suggesting that it may not normally form a channel. In contrast, when the VDAC gene from Drosophila melanogaster was expressed in delta por1 yeast cells, VDAC-like channels could be detected in the mitochondria by both bilayer and liposome techniques, yet the cells failed to grow on glycerol at 37 degrees C. Thus, channel-forming activity does not seem to be either necessary or sufficient to restore growth on nonfermentable carbon sources, indicating that VDAC mediates cellular functions that do not depend on the ability to form channels.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
VDAC, a channel in the outer mitochondrial membrane.
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Amino Acid Sequence↗
Structure and function of the yeast outer mitochondrial membrane channel, VDAC.
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Ion Channels↗
Lysine residues at positions 234 and 236 in yeast porin are involved in its assembly into the mitochondrial outer membrane.
Various point mutations of lysyl residues in yeast mitochondrial porin (283 residues) were tested for their ability to assemble in vitro into the outer membranes of intact yeast mitochondria. Assembly was evaluated by protection from proteinases. The extent of assembly of two of the mutants, K234E and K236E porins, was much less than for wild-type in either post-translational or co-translational assembly assays. Lysine to glutamate mutants at other positions and K234R porin assembled as well as wild-type, but K234Q porin was poorly inserted. When both Lys-234 and Lys-236 were mutated, K234R/K236R porin was inserted better than K234Q/K236Q porin, which was inserted better than K234E/K236E; however, none of these mutants assembled as well as wild-type porin. It was concluded that optimal assembly of yeast porin depended on the presence of positively charged residues at both positions 234 and 236 and a lysine at one of these positions. After undergoing the assembly reaction, mutants that were vulnerable to proteinase K (i.e. K234E, K234Q, and K236E porins) seemed to be incompletely digested and were, to varying degrees, resistant to extraction by Na2CO3 (pH 11.5). These experiments suggested that these mutants were incompletely inserted into the outer membrane. Both Lys-234 and Lys-236 are included in an internal pentapeptide, VKAKV, that is conserved in porins from protists, plants, and animals, and it is possible that, at least, the lysines in this tract are one of the signals for the membrane assembly of these proteins.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Oriented channel insertion reveals the motion of a transmembrane beta strand during voltage gating of VDAC.
Yeast VDAC channels (isolated from the mitochondrial outer membrane) form large aqueous pores whose walls are believed to consist of 1 alpha helix and 12 beta strands. Each channel has two voltage-gating processes: one closes the channels at positive potentials, the other at negative. When VDAC is reconstituted into phospholipid (soybean) membranes, the two gating processes have virtually the same steepness of voltage dependence and the same midpoint voltage. Substituting lysine for glutamate at either end of one putative beta strand (E145K or E152K) made the channels behave asymmetrically, increasing the voltage dependence of one gating process but not the other. The asymmetry was the same whether 1 or 100 channels were in the membrane, indicating oriented channel insertion. However, the direction of insertion varied from membrane to membrane, indicating that the insertion of the first channel was random and subsequent insertions were directed by the previously inserted channel(s). This raises the prospect of an auto-directed insertion with possible implications to protein targeting in cells. Each of the mutations affected a different gating process because the double mutant increased voltage dependence of both processes. Thus this strand may slide through the membrane in one direction or the other depending on the gating process. We propose that the model of folding for VDAC be altered to move this strand into the sensor region of the protein where it may act as a tether and guide/restrict the motion of the sensor.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Human genes encoding the voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) of the outer mitochondrial membrane: mapping and identification of two new isoforms.
The voltage-dependent anion channel of the mitochondrial outer membrane (VDAC) is a small, abundant pore-forming protein found in the outer membranes of all eukaryotic mitochondria. The VDAC protein is believed to form the major pathway for movement of adenine nucleotides through the outer membrane and to be the mitochondrial binding site for hexokinase and glycerol kinase. Previous studies have indicated that at least two human VDAC isoforms are expressed. Here, we report the mapping of VDAC1 to the X chromosome in the interval Xq13-q21 and VDAC2 to chromosome 21 by polymerase chain reaction and restriction analysis of a human/rodent somatic cell mapping panel. In the process of mapping these genes, we identified and mapped two additional sequences highly homologous to VDAC1. VDAC3 maps to chromosome 12 and VDAC4 maps to chromosome 1. The locations of VDAC1 and VDAC4 have been confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. Future studies will be aimed at defining the specific physiological role of each member of this family of channel proteins.
Base Sequence↗
NADH regulates the gating of VDAC, the mitochondrial outer membrane channel.
Aerobic energy metabolism in cells involves the transfer of reducing equivalents from organic molecules to oxygen. NADH is important as a carrier of these reducing equivalents and as a feedback regulator of glycolysis. We report that micromolar quantities of NADH double the voltage dependence of the mitochondrial channel, VDAC, a critical pathway for the flux of metabolites between the cytoplasm and the mitochondrial spaces. In the presence of NADH, the opening and closing of this channel is more sensitive to changes in membrane potential and thus presumably better able to respond to changes in metabolic conditions. This effect was observed both on a human and two fungal forms of VDAC, indicating a highly conserved regulatory mechanism. NAD+ and other nucleotides tested failed to mimic the action of NADH. This ability of NADH to facilitate VDAC closure could be one mechanism by which glycolysis can suppress oxidative phosphorylation (Crabtree effect).
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Mapping of residues forming the voltage sensor of the voltage-dependent anion-selective channel.
Voltage-gated ion-channel proteins contain "voltage-sensing" domains that drive the conformational transitions between open and closed states in response to changes in transmembrane voltage. We have used site-directed mutagenesis to identify residues affecting the voltage sensitivity of a mitochondrial channel, the voltage-dependent anion-selective channel (VDAC). Although charge changes at many sites had no effect, at other sites substitutions that increased positive charge also increased the steepness of voltage dependence and substitutions that decreased positive charge decreased voltage dependence by an appropriate amount. In contrast to the plasma membrane K+ and Na+ channels, these residues are distributed over large parts of the VDAC protein. These results have been used to define the conformational transitions that accompany voltage gating of an ion channel. This gating mechanism requires the movement of large portions of the VDAC protein through the membrane.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Cloning and functional expression in yeast of two human isoforms of the outer mitochondrial membrane channel, the voltage-dependent anion channel.
The voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) of the outer mitochondrial membrane is a small abundant protein found in all eukaryotic kingdoms which forms a voltage-gated pore when incorporated into planar lipid bilayers. VDAC is also the site of binding of the metabolic enzymes hexokinase and glycerol kinase to the mitochondrion in what may be a significant metabolic regulatory interaction. Recently, there has been speculation that there may be multiple forms of VDAC in mammals which differ in their localization in the outer mitochondrial membrane and in their physiological function. In this report, we describe the identification and characterization of two human cDNAs encoding VDAC homologs (HVDAC1 and HVDAC2). To confirm VDAC function, each human protein has been expressed in yeast lacking the endogenous VDAC gene. Human proteins isolated from yeast mitochondria formed channels with the characteristics expected of VDAC when incorporated into planar lipid bilayers. In addition, expression of the human proteins in such strains can complement phenotypic defects associated with elimination of the endogenous yeast VDAC gene. Since VDAC is the site of binding of hexokinase to the outer mitochondrial membrane, the binding capacity of each VDAC isoform expressed in yeast mitochondria was assessed. When compared with the binding of hexokinase to mitochondria lacking VDAC, the results show that mitochondria expressing HVDAC1 are capable of specifically binding hexokinase, whereas mitochondria expressing HVDAC2 only bind hexokinase at background levels. The expression of each human cDNA has been assessed by Northern blot and polymerase chain reaction techniques. With one exception, each is expressed in all human cell lines and tissues examined.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Determination of the number of polypeptide subunits in a functional VDAC channel from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Genes encoding VDAC proteins containing specific site-directed amino acid alterations were introduced into wild-type Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The mutant VDAC proteins form channels with ion selectivities very different from that of the wild-type channel. Therefore, the resulting yeast strains express two different genes capable of coding for functional, yet distinct, VDAC channels. If VDAC were an oligomeric channel, analysis of VDAC from these strains should have revealed not only the presence of channels with wild-type or mutant selectivity but also channels with intermediate selectivities. While channels with wild-type and mutant selectivities were observed with approximately equal frequency, no channels with intermediate selectivity were observed. Sufficient observations were performed with two different mutant genes K61E.K65E and K19E.K61E) that the likelihood of having missed hybrid channels was less than 1 in 10(7). These findings favor the hypothesis that each functional VDAC channel is composed of a single 30-kDa polypeptide chain.
Fungal Proteins↗