Title:Mitochondrial Ion Channels in Aging and Related Diseases
Volume: 15
Issue: 2
Author(s): Md. Ashrafuzzaman*
Affiliation:
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Keywords:
Ion channels, mitochondrial membrane, membrane potential, disease, aging, channelopathy.
Abstract: Transport of materials and information across cellular boundaries, such as plasma, mitochondrial
and nuclear membranes, happens mainly through varieties of ion channels and pumps.
Various biophysical and biochemical processes play vital roles. The underlying mechanisms and
associated phenomenological lipid membrane transports are linked directly or indirectly to the cell
health condition. Mitochondrial membranes (mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM) and mitochondrial
inner membrane (MIM)) host crucial cellular processes. Their malfunction is often found
responsible for the rise of cell-originated diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer’s, neurodegenerative
disease, etc. A large number of ion channels active across MOM and MIM are known to belong
to vital cell-based structures found to be linked directly to cellular signaling. Hence, their malfunctions
are often found to contribute to abnormalities in intracellular communication, which may
even be associated with the rise of various diseases. This article aims to pinpoint ion channels that
are directly or indirectly linked to especially aging and related abnormalities in health conditions.
An attempt has been made to address the natural structures of these channels, their mutated conditions,
and the ways we may cause interventions in their malfunctioning. The malfunction of ion
channel subunits, especially various proteins, involved directly in channel formation and/or indirectly
in channel stabilization leads to the rise of various channel-specific diseases, which are
known as channelopathies. Channelopathies in aging will be discussed briefly. This mini-review
may be found as an important reference for drug discovery scientists dealing with aging-related
diseases.