Biomaterial Database

Effect of polycation peptides on mitochondrial permeability transition. 1995

M P Rigobello, and E Barzon, and O Marin, and A Bindoli

Centro Studio Fisiologia dei Mitocondri (CNR), Università di Padova, Italy.

Synthetic polycation peptides obtained with the basic aminoacids lysine, arginine and ornithine are able to inhibit the permeability transition induced in mitochondria by calcium ions and inorganic phosphate. At least three basic aminoacid residues must be present in the peptide in order to elicit the inhibitory effect. In the presence of synthetic polycations and similarly to spermine, a lack of correlation between inhibition of swelling and glutathione release is apparent, since glutathione release occurs before the onset of a large amplitude swelling. The same lack of correlation is observed in the presence of cyclosporin. From the results obtained with the above reported polycations, different in both aminoacid composition and length, it appears that the effect is not to be referred to the individual properties of the molecules examined but rather to their cationic character; in addition, a critical number of positive charges is necessary to elicit the effect.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008564	Membrane Potentials	The voltage differences across a membrane. For cellular membranes they are computed by subtracting the voltage measured outside the membrane from the voltage measured inside the membrane. They result from differences of inside versus outside concentration of potassium, sodium, chloride, and other ions across cells' or ORGANELLES membranes. For excitable cells, the resting membrane potentials range between -30 and -100 millivolts. Physical, chemical, or electrical stimuli can make a membrane potential more negative (hyperpolarization), or less negative (depolarization).	Resting Potentials,Transmembrane Potentials,Delta Psi,Resting Membrane Potential,Transmembrane Electrical Potential Difference,Transmembrane Potential Difference,Difference, Transmembrane Potential,Differences, Transmembrane Potential,Membrane Potential,Membrane Potential, Resting,Membrane Potentials, Resting,Potential Difference, Transmembrane,Potential Differences, Transmembrane,Potential, Membrane,Potential, Resting,Potential, Transmembrane,Potentials, Membrane,Potentials, Resting,Potentials, Transmembrane,Resting Membrane Potentials,Resting Potential,Transmembrane Potential,Transmembrane Potential Differences
D008930	Mitochondria, Liver	Mitochondria in hepatocytes. As in all mitochondria, there are an outer membrane and an inner membrane, together creating two separate mitochondrial compartments: the internal matrix space and a much narrower intermembrane space. In the liver mitochondrion, an estimated 67% of the total mitochondrial proteins is located in the matrix. (From Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2d ed, p343-4)	Liver Mitochondria,Liver Mitochondrion,Mitochondrion, Liver
D008933	Mitochondrial Swelling	An increase in MITOCHONDRIAL VOLUME due to an influx of fluid; it occurs in hypotonic solutions due to osmotic pressure and in isotonic solutions as a result of altered permeability of the membranes of respiring mitochondria.	Giant Mitochondria,Megamitochondria,Mitochondrial Hypertrophy,Giant Mitochondrias,Hypertrophy, Mitochondrial,Megamitochondrias,Mitochondria, Giant,Mitochondrial Hypertrophies,Swelling, Mitochondrial
D009842	Oligopeptides	Peptides composed of between two and twelve amino acids.	Oligopeptide
D010455	Peptides	Members of the class of compounds composed of AMINO ACIDS joined together by peptide bonds between adjacent amino acids into linear, branched or cyclical structures. OLIGOPEPTIDES are composed of approximately 2-12 amino acids. Polypeptides are composed of approximately 13 or more amino acids. PROTEINS are considered to be larger versions of peptides that can form into complex structures such as ENZYMES and RECEPTORS.	Peptide,Polypeptide,Polypeptides
D010539	Permeability	Property of membranes and other structures to permit passage of light, heat, gases, liquids, metabolites, and mineral ions.	Permeabilities
D011073	Polyamines	Amine compounds that consist of carbon chains or rings containing two or more primary amino groups.	Polyamine
D011107	Polylysine	A peptide which is a homopolymer of lysine.	Epsilon-Polylysine,Poly-(Alpha-L-Lysine),Epsilon Polylysine
D002412	Cations	Positively charged atoms, radicals or groups of atoms which travel to the cathode or negative pole during electrolysis.	Cation
D005978	Glutathione	A tripeptide with many roles in cells. It conjugates to drugs to make them more soluble for excretion, is a cofactor for some enzymes, is involved in protein disulfide bond rearrangement and reduces peroxides.	Reduced Glutathione,gamma-L-Glu-L-Cys-Gly,gamma-L-Glutamyl-L-Cysteinylglycine,Glutathione, Reduced,gamma L Glu L Cys Gly,gamma L Glutamyl L Cysteinylglycine