title: Imaging the permeability pore transition in single mitochondria.
abstract: In mitochondria the opening of a large proteinaceous pore, the "mitochondrial permeability transition pore" (MTP), is known to occur under conditions of oxidative stress and matrix calcium overload. MTP opening and the resulting cellular energy deprivation have been implicated in processes such as hypoxic cell damage, apoptosis, and neuronal excitotoxicity. Membrane potential (delta psi(m)) in single isolated heart mitochondria was measured by confocal microscopy with a voltage-sensitive fluorescent dye. Measurements in mitochondrial populations revealed a gradual loss of delta psi(m) due to the light-induced generation of free radicals. In contrast, the depolarization in individual mitochondria was fast, sometimes causing marked oscillations of delta psi(m). Rapid depolarizations were accompanied by an increased permeability of the inner mitochondrial membrane to matrix-entrapped calcein (approximately 620 Da), indicating the opening of a large membrane pore. The MTP inhibitor cyclosporin A significantly stabilized delta psi(m) in single mitochondria, thereby slowing the voltage decay in averaged recordings. We conclude that the spontaneous depolarizations were caused by repeated stochastic openings and closings of the transition pore. The data demonstrate a much more dynamic regulation of membrane permeability at the level of a single organelle than predicted from ensemble behavior of mitochondrial populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois 60153, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hüser
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Rechenmacher
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Blatter
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005978:Glutathione / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D015640:Ion Channel Gating; D008027:Light; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008929:Mitochondria, Heart / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D010539:Permeability; D051381:Rats; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D016572:Cyclosporine; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D005978:Glutathione; D002118:Calcium