VDAC1 / 2 / 3 Recombinant Rabbit Monoclonal Antibody [PSH14-90]

Function

Voltage-dependent anion channels, or mitochondrial porins, are a class of porin ion channel located on the outer mitochondrial membrane. Humans, like most higher eukaryotes, encode three different VDACs; VDAC1, VDAC2, and VDAC3. Together with TOMM40 and TOMM40L they represent a family of evolutionarily related β-barrels. VDAC has also been shown to play a role in apoptosis. During apoptosis, VDAC modifies the mitochondrial permeability transition pore to release of apoptogenic factors such as cytochrome c. However, VDAC are not essential components of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. Although cytochrome c plays an essential role in oxidative phosphorylation within the mitochondrion. In the cytosol it activates proteolytic enzymes called caspases, which play a major role in cell death. Although the mechanism for VDAC-facilitated cytochrome c release has not yet been fully elucidated, some research suggests that oligomerization between individual subunits may create a large flexible pore through which cytochrome c can pass. A more important factor is that release of cytochrome c is also regulated by the Bcl-2 protein family: Bax interacts directly with VDAC to increase pore size and promote cytochrome c release, while anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL produces the exact opposite effect. In fact, it has been shown that antibodies that inhibit VDAC also interfere with Bax-mediated cytochrome c release in both isolated mitochondria and whole cells. This key role in apoptosis suggests VDAC as a potential target for chemotherapeutic drugs.

Background References

1. Shoshan-Barmatz V et al. VDAC1 at the Intersection of Cell Metabolism, Apoptosis, and Diseases. Biomolecules. 2020 Oct

2. Yuan S et al. VDAC2 loss elicits tumour destruction and inflammation for cancer therapy. Nature. 2025 Apr

3. Huang G et al. The lncRNA BDNF-AS/WDR5/FBXW7 axis mediates ferroptosis in gastric cancer peritoneal metastasis by regulating VDAC3 ubiquitination. Int J Biol Sci. 2022 Jan

Subcellular Location

Mitochondrion outer membrane, Membrane.

UNIPROT

SwissProt: P21796 Human

SwissProt: P45880 Human

SwissProt: Q9Y277 Human

SwissProt: Q60932 Mouse

SwissProt: Q60930 Mouse

SwissProt: Q60931 Mouse

SwissProt: Q9Z2L0 Rat

SwissProt: P81155 Rat

SwissProt: Q9R1Z0 Rat

Synonyms