Mitochondria play a crucial role in cytoprotection, cellular senescence, tumor metabolism, and inflammation. One of the key mechanisms regulating these processes is the transport of potassium ions across the inner mitochondrial membrane, mediated by specific potassium channels.
The latest review article, Mitochondrial potassium channels: New properties and functions, published in Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) – Bioenergetics, provides an updated overview of mitochondrial large-conductance calcium-activated (BKCa) and ATP-regulated (mitoKATP) potassium channels. The authors discuss their role in cellular senescence, as well as interactions with mitochondrial proteins and small molecules such as quercetin, hemin, and hydrogen sulfide. The article also highlights future research directions and the potential significance of mitochondrial potassium channels in cell biology and medicine.
The publication was prepared at the Laboratory of Intracellular Ion Channels at the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences.
The full article is available at: DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2025.149546.
This study was supported by the Polish National Science Centre MAESTRO grant No. 2019/34/A/NZ1/00352 (to Adam Szewczyk), SONATA BIS grant No. 2015/18/E/NZ1/00737 (to Bogusz Kulawiak), OPUS grant No. 2019/35/B/NZ1/02546 (to Piotr Bednarczyk), and OPUS grant No. 2015/19/B/NZ1/02794 (to Piotr Koprowski).