MitoSciences: Porin (VDAC)

UniProt Number:	VDAC1: P21796 VDAC2: P45880 VDAC3: Q9Y277
Alternate Names:	Voltage-dependent anion-selective channel protein, Outer mitochondrial membrane protein porin
Structure and Function:	Porin, or VDAC, is present in the mitochondrial outer membrane as three isoforms: VDAC1, VDAC2 and VDAC3. The primary role of all three is as a voltage dependent anion selective channel as the name implies. This function of the protein is regulated by divalent metal ions and adenine nucleotides. VDAC is a critical player in apoptosis related to the so called mitochondrial permeability transition. Several studies have suggested that VDAC1 is a part of the permeability transition pore. VDAC is now known to be the binding site for hexokinase isoforms I and II, and this binding is anti-apoptotic and an important part of the overall cancer cell phenotype.
Disease Associations:	n/a