Induction of cyclosporine-sensitive mitochondrial permeability transition pore by substrates forming acetyl-CoA under normal conditions and in type 2 diabetes

Oxidation of pyruvate and palmitoylcarnitine in mitochondria is accompanied by the formation of acetyl-CoA, with its possible participation in the acetylation of various proteins and enzymes that may lead to the inhibition of their functions. This paper studies the effect of the excess of these substrates on respiration and induction of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) in mitochondria and liver homogenates of healthy, obese, and type 2 diabetic (T2D) rats and mice. Both substrates produced a reversible inhibition of respiration and induced the opening of MPTP sensitive to cyclosporin A. Induction of MPTP in mitochondria was further activated by calcium ions and inhibited by the NO donor SNAP and NAD–a coenzyme and activator of deacetylation reactions. In obese and T2D animals, the opening of MPTP was stimulated by lower concentrations of L-palmitoylcarnitine than in healthy animals. In these pathologies, an activation effect on the MPTP induction was produced by ammonium ions, in the presence of which the concentration of L-palmitoylcarnitine required for the pore opening was reduced more than twofold. In liver homogenates, an added arginine reduced the probability of the MPTP formation. Analysis of mathematical models has shown that, due to the inhibition of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) by pyruvate, phosphorylation of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) is strongly reduced, and this makes it possible to produce acetyl CoA in a wide range of pyruvate concentrations. The data obtained show that excess substrates that produce acetyl-CoA increase the probability of the MPTP opening, especially in pathologies associated with obesity and T2D. The ability of NO and NAD to inhibit MPTP indicates the participation of phosphorylation and acetylation/deacetylation reactions in this process.