title: Effects of disialoganglioside GD3 on the mitochondrial membrane potential.
abstract: GD3 is an intracellular mediator of apoptotic signaling. Although GD3 is known to directly act on mitochondria, the dynamic responses of individual mitochondria to GD3 remain to be elucidated. In the current study, the membrane potential of single mitochondria is observed in the presence of GD3 or its analogues. Here, we report that (1) GD3 specifically induces gradual depolarizations of the inner membrane by a mechanism that differs from the permeability transition, and (2) the GD3-induced depolarizations are suppressed by cyclosporin A. These results suggest that GD3 depolarizes mitochondria by a mechanism distinct from but relevant to the permeability transition.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biotechnology and Life Science, Institute of Symbiotic Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Nakacho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Higuchi
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kajimoto
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D008929:Mitochondria, Heart / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015394:Molecular Structure; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D005732:Gangliosides; C026226:ganglioside, GD3; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide