The voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) is a ubiquitous channel in the outer membrane of the mitochondrion with multiple roles in protein, metabolite and small molecule transport. In mammalian cells, VDAC protein, as part of a larger complex including the inositol triphosphate receptor, has been shown to have a role in mediating contacts between the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We identify VDAC of the pathogenic apicomplexan Toxoplasma gondii and demonstrate its importance for parasite growth. We show that VDAC is involved in protein import and metabolite transfer to mitochondria. Further, depletion of VDAC resulted in significant morphological changes in the mitochondrion and ER, suggesting a role in mediating contacts between these organelles in T. gondii. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

中文翻译：

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弓形虫孔蛋白的消耗导致线粒体形态缺陷和与内质网的接触。

电压依赖性阴离子通道（VDAC）是线粒体外膜中普遍存在的通道，在蛋白质、代谢物和小分子转运中具有多重作用。在哺乳动物细胞中，VDAC 蛋白作为包括肌醇三磷酸受体在内的更大复合体的一部分，已被证明在介导线粒体和内质网 (ER) 之间的接触中发挥作用。我们确定了致病性顶端复合弓形虫的 VDAC，并证明了其对寄生虫生长的重要性。我们表明 VDAC 参与蛋白质输入和代谢物转移到线粒体。此外，VDAC 的消耗导致线粒体和 ER 的显着形态变化，表明在介导弓形虫中这些细胞器之间的接触中起作用。