Agaric acid induces mitochondrial permeability transition through its interaction with the adenine nucleotide translocase. Its dependence on membrane fluidity.

Noemí García, Cecilia Zazueta, Natalia Pavón, Edmundo Chávez

Index: Mitochondrion 5 , 272-281, (2005)

Full Text: HTML

Abstract

The effect of agaric acid as inducer of mitochondrial permeability transition was studied. It was found that: (i) agaric acid (AA) promoted efflux of accumulated Ca2+, collapse of transmembrane potential, and mitochondrial swelling; (ii) these effects depend on membrane fluidity; (iii) ADP inhibited the effect of AA on Ca2+ efflux, and (iv) AA blocked binding of the sulfhydryl reagent, eosin-5-maleimide, to the adenine nucleotide translocase. It is proposed that AA induces pore opening through binding of the citrate moiety to the ADP/ATP carrier; this interaction must be stabilized by insertion of the alkyl chain in the lipid milieu of the membrane.