Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 12, 2026

Inner Mitochondrial Membrane Sensitivity to Na+ Reveals Partially Segmented Functional CoQ Pools
Published on: July 20, 2022
Nitrate maintains mitochondrial membrane integrity by increasing Sialin-FKBP8 granules via liquid-liquid-phase
Xue Wang1, Huan Liu1, Minwei Yue1
1Beijing Laboratory of Oral Health and Beijing Stomatological Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China.
Abstract:
Mitochondria, the metabolic centers of cells, play a pivotal role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and regulating physiological processes. Mitochondrial membrane disruption and consequent dysfunction are key pathogenic mechanisms underlying various diseases, including irradiation (IR)-induced salivary gland damage. Our previous studies have demonstrated that nitrate exerts preventive effects against mitochondrial dysfunction and IR-induced salivary gland injury. However, the mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, supplementation with nitrate significantly reduced mitochondrial damage to salivary epithelial cells in the context of IR-induced salivary gland damage in vivo and cellular injury to human salivary gland cells (HSGs) in vitro. Nitrate alleviated mitochondrial membrane damage in salivary epithelial cells mainly by maintaining the integrity of the mitochondrial membrane. Mechanistically, nitrate upregulates the expression of the nitrate transporter Sialin in salivary epithelial cells, along with H+ importation and subsequent cytoplasmic acidification. The high expression of Sialin, coupled with a low cytoplasmic pH, synergistically promotes the interaction between Sialin and FK506-binding protein 8 (FKBP8), leading to the formation of Sialin-FKBP8 granules through liquid-liquid phase separation. These granules anchor to the outer mitochondrial membrane, thereby maintaining mitochondrial membrane integrity. Notably, the Sialin R494A mutation inhibited the Sialin-FKBP8 interaction and abolished the protection of nitrate. Collectively, this study is the first to elucidate the mechanism by which nitrate protects against mitochondrial membrane damage, providing a potential strategy for preventing IR-induced injury and other mitochondrial damage-related diseases.
More Related Videos
08:32Application of Genetically Encoded Fluorescent Nitric Oxide (NO•) Probes, the geNOps, for Real-time Imaging of NO• Signals in Single Cells
Published on: March 16, 2017
08:24Nitrogen Cavitation and Differential Centrifugation Allows for Monitoring the Distribution of Peripheral Membrane Proteins in Cultured Cells
Published on: August 18, 2017
Related Concept Videos
The Inner Mitochondrial Membrane
Mitochondrial Membranes
Translocation of Proteins into the Mitochondria
Sorting of outer membrane proteins:
Mitochondrial outer membrane proteins are of two types: the transmembrane, beta-barrel porins, and the membrane-anchored, alpha-helical proteins. Beta-barrel porin precursors are translocated by the TOM complex and inserted into the outer mitochondrial membrane by the SAM complex. In contrast,...
Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway
Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation
Mitochondrial Protein Sorting
Most of these mitochondrial proteins are encoded by the nucleus and imported to the mitochondria as unfolded or loosely folded precursors. Mitochondrial precursors...