Depletion of a toxoplasma porin leads to defects in mitochondrial morphology and contacts with the endoplasmic reticulum

Natalia Mallo, Jana Ovciarikova, Erica S. Martins-Duarte, Stephan C. Baehr, Marco Biddau, Mary Louise Wilde, Alessandro D. Uboldi, Leandro Lemgruber, Christopher J. Tonkin, Jeremy G. Wideman, Clare R. Harding, Lilach Sheiner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

The voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) is a ubiquitous channel in the outer membrane of the mitochondrion with multiple roles in protein, metabolite and small molecule transport. In mammalian cells, VDAC protein, as part of a larger complex including the inositol triphosphate receptor, has been shown to have a role in mediating contacts between the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We identify VDAC of the pathogenic apicomplexan Toxoplasma gondii and demonstrate its importance for parasite growth. We show that VDAC is involved in protein import and metabolite transfer to mitochondria. Further, depletion of VDAC resulted in significant morphological changes in the mitochondrion and ER, suggesting a role in mediating contacts between these organelles in T. gondii. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberjcs255299
JournalJournal of Cell Science
Volume134
Issue number20
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2021

Keywords

  • Ca
  • ER
  • Membrane contact sites
  • Mitochondria
  • Mitochondrion
  • Motility
  • Porin
  • Toxoplasma
  • VDAC

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cell Biology

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