Mitochondrial permeability transition and oxidative stress

Abstract

Mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) is a non‐selective inner membrane permeabilization that may precede necrotic and apoptotic cell death. Although this process has a specific inhibitor, cyclosporin A, little is known about the nature of the proteinaceous pore that results in MPT. Here, we review data indicating that MPT is not a consequence of the opening of a pre‐formed pore, but the consequence of oxidative damage to pre‐existing membrane proteins.