The yeast mitochondrial permeability transition is regulated by reactive oxygen species, endogenous Ca2+ and Cpr3, mediating cell death

We investigated the properties of the permeability transition pore (PTP) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae in agar-embedded mitochondria (AEM) and agar-embedded cells (AEC) and its role in yeast death. In AEM, ethanol-induced pore opening, as indicated by the release of calcein and mitochondrial membrane depolarization, can be inhibited by CsA, by Cpr3 deficiency, and by the antioxidant glutathione. Notably, the pore opening is inhibited, when mitochondria are preloaded by EGTA or Fluo3 to chelate matrix Ca2+, or are pretreated with 4-Br A23187 to extract matrix Ca2+, prior to agar-embedding, or when pore opening is induced in the presence of EGTA; opened pores are re-closed by sequential treatment with CsA, 4-Br A23187 plus EGTA and NADH, indicating endogenous matrix Ca2+ involvement. CsA also inhibits the pore opening with low conductance triggered by exogenous Ca2+ transport with ETH129. In AEC, the treatment of tert-butylhydroperoxide, a pro-oxidant that triggers transient pore opening in high conductance in AEM, induces yeast death, which is also dependent on CsA and Cpr3. Furthermore, AEMs from mutants lacking three ADP/ATP carrier (AAC) isoforms and with defective ATP synthase dimerization exhibit high and low conductance pore openings with CsA sensitivity, respectively. Collectively, these data show that the yeast PTP is regulated by Cpr3, endogenous matrix Ca2+, and reactive oxygen species, and that it is involved in yeast death; furthermore, ATP synthase dimers play a key role in CsA-sensitive pore formation, while AACs are dispensable. •The regulation of the yeast permeability transition pore (PTP) was studied.•CsA, Cpr3 deficiency and glutathione inhibit pore opening in agar-embedded mitochondria.•Ca2+ chelation indicates the critical role of endogenous matrix Ca2+ in pore opening.•Yeast death sensitive to CsA/Cpr3 can be induced by tBHP in agar-embedded cells.•The yeast PTP is regulated by matrix Ca2+, ROS and cyclophilin, like the mammalian PTP.