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PROSITE documentation PDOC00483
Eukaryotic mitochondrial porin signature


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PURL: https://purl.expasy.org/prosite/documentation/PDOC00483

Description

The major protein of the outer mitochondrial membrane of eukaryotes is a porin that forms a voltage-dependent anion-selective channel (VDAC) that behaves as a general diffusion pore for small hydrophilic molecules [1,2,3,4]. The channel adopts an open conformation at low or zero membrane potential and a closed conformation at potentials above 30-40 mV.

This protein contains about 280 amino acids and its sequence is composed of between 12 to 16 β-strands that span the mitochondrial outer membrane. Yeast contains two members of this family (genes POR1 and POR2); vertebrates have at least three members (genes VDAC1, VDAC2 and VDAC3) [5].

As a signature pattern we selected a conserved region located at the C-terminal part of these proteins.

Last update:

July 1999 / Pattern and text revised.

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Technical section

PROSITE method (with tools and information) covered by this documentation:

EUKARYOTIC_PORIN, PS00558; Eukaryotic mitochondrial porin signature  (PATTERN)


References

1AuthorsBenz R.
TitlePermeation of hydrophilic solutes through mitochondrial outer membranes: review on mitochondrial porins.
SourceBiochim. Biophys. Acta 1197:167-196(1994).
PubMed ID8031826

2AuthorsManella C.A.
SourceTrends Biochem. Sci. 17:315-320(1992).

3AuthorsDihanich M.
TitleThe biogenesis and function of eukaryotic porins.
SourceExperientia 46:146-153(1990).
PubMed ID1689252

4AuthorsForte M. Guy H.R. Mannella C.A.
TitleMolecular genetics of the VDAC ion channel: structural model and sequence analysis.
SourceJ. Bioenerg. Biomembr. 19:341-350(1987).
PubMed ID2442148

5AuthorsSampson M.J. Lovell R.S. Davison D.B. Craigen W.J.
TitleA novel mouse mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channel gene localizes to chromosome 8.
SourceGenomics 36:192-196(1996).
PubMed ID8812436



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