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Potassium channels in the mitochondria of unicellular eukaryotes and plants
Author(s) -
Jarmuszkiewicz Wieslawa,
Matkovic Karolina,
Koszela-Piotrowska Izabela
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2010.01.023
Subject(s) - potassium channel , mitochondrion , alternative oxidase , potassium , microbiology and biotechnology , atp sensitive potassium channel , chemistry , reactive oxygen species , biochemistry , respiratory chain , biophysics , biology , organic chemistry , endocrinology , glibenclamide , diabetes mellitus
The functional characterisation of potassium channels found in the mitochondria of plants and unicellular eukaryotes is critically discussed herein, with a focus on the ATP‐sensitive potassium channel and the large‐conductance Ca 2+ ‐activated potassium channel (mitoBK Ca channel). The physiological functions of these channels are not completely understood. We discuss the functional connections and roles of potassium channels, uncoupling protein and alternative oxidase, three energy‐dissipating systems that exist in the mitochondrial respiratory chain of plants and some unicellular eukaryotes, which include preventing the production of reactive oxygen species.