Electrostatics explains the shift in VDAC gating with salt activity gradient

Biophysical Journal
Victor LevadnyVicente M Aguilella

Abstract

We have analyzed voltage-dependent anion-selective channel (VDAC) gating on the assumption that the states occupied by the channel are determined mainly by their electrostatic energy. The voltage dependence of VDAC gating both in the presence and in the absence of a salt activity gradient was explained just by invoking electrostatic interactions. A model describing this energy in the main VDAC states has been developed. On the basis of the model, we have considered how external factors cause the redistribution of the channels among their conformational states. We propose that there is a difference in the electrostatic interaction between the voltage sensor and fixed charge within the channel when the former is located in the cis side of membrane as opposed to the trans. This could be the main cause of the shift in the probability curve. The theory describes satisfactorily the experimental data (Zizi et al., Biophys. J. 1998. 75:704-713) and explains some peculiarities of VDAC gating. The asymmetry of the probability curve was related to the apparent location of the VDAC voltage sensor in the open state. By analyzing published experimental data, we concluded that this apparent location is influenced by the diffusion potential. A...Continue Reading

References

Jun 15, 1993·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·L ThomasM Forte
Jun 22, 2000·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·T K RostovtsevaS M Bezrukov

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Citations

Oct 25, 2006·Annual Review of Physiology·Brian O'Rourke
Jan 31, 2016·Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta·Marco Colombini
Mar 11, 2006·Neurochemistry International·Giovanna TrainaMarcello Brunelli
Oct 7, 2010·Biophysical Journal·Lamia MlayehFabrice Homblé
Jul 2, 2017·Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta. Bioenergetics·Lamia MlayehFabrice Homblé
Jun 26, 2014·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·Oscar TeijidoSergey M Bezrukov
Sep 23, 2006·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·Tatiana K RostovtsevaSergey M Bezrukov
Aug 26, 2003·Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics·P RamírezA Alcaraz

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