The Ca2+ -induced pore opening in mitochondria energized by succinate-ferricyanide electron transport

The oxygen dependence of the mitochondria permeability transition pore was under study in non-respiring rat liver mitochondria. Oxygen in the medium was depleted by saturation of the incubation medium with N2 and spontaneously by mitochondrial respiration followed by the addition of glucose/glucose oxidase. After the anaerobic state had been reached, ferricyanide has been added to support succinate-driven energization in the absence of oxygen. In the other set of the experiments KCN was added to block operation of the respiratory chain under aerobic conditions. Again, ferricyanide was added as an electron acceptor. Superoxide dismutase was added to trap superoxide anion radicals. Under either hypoxic conditions or in the presence of cyanide, calcium ions were shown to induce the permeability transition. The concentration of Ca2+ required was lower than under conditions of active respiration. In both cases, the transition was prevented by cyclosporine A.