Human VDAC3 as a sensor of the intracellular redox state: contribution to cytoprotection mechanisms in oxidative stress

Voltage-dependent anion channels (VDACs) are essential for mitochondrial function, facilitating the exchange of metabolites between the cytosol and mitochondria. This study investigated the role of human VDAC paralogs, hVDAC1, hVDAC2, and hVDAC3, in maintaining mitochondrial function under oxidative stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains lacking endogenous VDACs (encoded by POR1 and POR2) and antioxidant enzymes, i.e., superoxide dismutases (encoded by SOD1 and SOD2). The yeast cells expressing hVDAC3 showed stable growth under oxidative stress, maintained mitochondrial membrane potential and morphology, exhibited reduced superoxide anion levels, and achieved efficient ATP synthesis with minimal proton leak. In contrast, the cells expressing hVDAC1 or hVDAC2 presented impaired mitochondrial function which was supported by differences in bioenergetic profiles including ATP synthesis and proton leak but also FCCP uncoupling capacity and spare respiratory capacity. The cysteine-depleted variant of hVDAC3 (hVDAC3ΔCys) showed impaired cell growth under stress conditions, indicating that the cysteine residues in hVDAC3 are essential for its protective role. These findings highlight the unique protective function of hVDAC3 under oxidative stress, which is attributed to efficient metabolite transport and regulation via cysteine oxidation.