Isolation of a novel human voltage-dependent anion channel gene

The voltage-dependent anion channel of the mitochondrial outer membrane (VDAC) is a small, abundant pore-forming protein found in the outer membranes of all eukaryotic mitochondria. The VDAC protein is believed to control the movement of adenine nucleotides through the outer membrane and to be the mitochondrial binding site for hexokinase and glycerol kinase. Two human VDAC cDNAs (HVDAC1 and HVDAC2) have been previously isolated and mapped on chromosome X and 21, respectively. Here, we report the isolation of a novel third human VDAC cDNA, corresponding to the mouse MVDAC3 gene. The expression of this gene in various tissues and its chromosomal localization by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a human/rodent somatic cell mapping panel and by fluorescence in situ hybridization is also presented.