Measurement of VDAC permeability in intact mitochondria and in reconstituted systems

Quantitative measurements of the permeability of the mitochondrial outer membrane to metabolites allow one to assess the ability of mitochondria to exchange metabolites with the cytosol of the cell. This can be used to determine the influence of treatments or conditions that alter this permeability to regulate cellular metabolic rate or control the initiation of the apoptotic process by closing VDAC. By comparing effects on pure VDAC with those in the outer membrane, one can discover the existence of endogenous factors that influence VDAC's response. Naturally the isolated mitochondrion lacks any cytosolic influences but cytosolic factors could be added back to determine their mode of action. © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.