THE MITOCHONDRIAL BENZODIAZEPINE RECEPTOR - EVIDENCE FOR ASSOCIATION WITH THE VOLTAGE-DEPENDENT ANION CHANNEL (VDAC)

Specific, high-affinity receptors for numerous drugs have recently been localized to mitochondrial membrane proteins. This review discusses the association of the mitochondrial receptor for benzodiazepines (mBzR) with the voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC), indicating a possible auxiliary role for VDAC as a putative drug binding protein. The proposed subunit composition of the purified mbzR complex isolated from rat kidney mitochondria includes VDAC, which functions as a recognition site for benzodiazepines (e.g., flunitrazepam), the adenine nucleotide carrier (ADC), and an 18kDa outer membrane protein identified by covalent labelling with the mBzR antagonists isoquinoline carboxamides (e.g., PK14105).