title: The mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP) - an example of multiple molecular exaptation?
abstract: The mitochondrial permeability transition (PT) is a well-recognized phenomenon that allows mitochondria to undergo a sudden increase of permeability to solutes with molecular mass ≤ 1500Da, leading to organelle swelling and structural modifications. The relevance of PT relies on its master role in the manifestation of programmed cell death (PCD). This function is performed by a mega-channel (in some cases inhibited by cyclosporin A) named permeability transition pore (PTP), whose function could derive from the assembly of different mitochondrial proteins. In this paper we examine the distribution and characteristics of PTP in mitochondria of eukaryotic organisms so far investigated in order to draw a hypothesis on the mechanism of its evolution. As a result, we suggest that PTP may have arisen as a new function linked to a multiple molecular exaptation of different mitochondrial proteins, even though they could nevertheless still play their original role. Furthermore, we suggest that the early appearance of PTP could have had a crucial role in the establishment of endosymbiosis in eukaryotic cells, by the coordinated balancing of ATP production by glycolysis (performed by the primary phagocyte) and oxidative phosphorylation (accomplished by the endosymbiont). Indeed, we argue on the possibility that this new energetic equilibrium could have opened the way to the subsequent evolution toward metazoans.
authors: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science, Unit of Plant Biology, University of Udine, Italy. angelo.vianello@uniud.it
authors: Angelo
authors: A
authors: Vianello
authors: Valentino
authors: V
authors: Casolo
authors: Elisa
authors: E
authors: Petrussa
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Peresson
authors: Sonia
authors: S
authors: Patui
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Bertolini
authors: Sabina
authors: S
authors: Passamonti
authors: Enrico
authors: E
authors: Braidot
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Zancani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006801:Humans; D033681:Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000083162:Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore; D010802:Phylogeny; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D033681:Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins; D000083162:Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore; D015221:Potassium Channels; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C117780:mitochondrial K(ATP) channel; D002118:Calcium