The Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore, the c-Subunit of the F₁F_o ATP Synthase, Cellular Development, and Synaptic Efficiency

Ion transport across the mitochondrial inner and outer membranes is central to mitochondrial function, including regulation of oxidative phosphorylation and cell death. Although required for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production by mitochondria, recent findings have confirmed that the c-subunit of the ATP synthase also houses a large conductance uncoupling channel, the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP), the persistent opening of which produces osmotic dysregulation of the inner mitochondrial membrane and cell death. This chapter discusses recent advances in understanding the molecular components of mPTP and its regulatory mechanisms during cell death. It also talks about mitochondrial inner and outer membrane channel activity, pathological outer mitochondrial membrane permeabilization (MOMP), mitochondrial permeability transition, the PT pore, and mitochondrial metabolic plasticity, among other concepts. Synaptic depression is also found acutely in hypoxic brain damage and may also be associated with opening of the c-subunit pore in its role as mPTP.