Bcl-2 prevents apoptotic mitochondrial dysfunction by regulating proton flux.

We and others have recently shown that loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential (Deltapsi) precedes apoptosis and chemical-hypoxia-induced necrosis and is prevented by Bcl-2. In this report, we examine the biochemical mechanism used by Bcl-2 to prevent Deltapsi loss, as determined with mitochondria isolated from a cell line overexpressing human Bcl-2 or from livers of Bcl-2 transgenic mice. Although Bcl-2 had no effect on the respiration rate of isolated mitochondria, it prevented both Deltapsi loss and the permeability transition (PT) induced by various reagents, including Ca2+, H2O2, and tert-butyl hydroperoxide. Even under conditions that did not allow PT, Bcl-2 maintained Deltapsi, suggesting that the functional target of Bcl-2 is regulation of Deltapsi but not PT. Bcl-2 also maintained Deltapsi in the presence of the protonophore SF6847, which induces proton influx, suggesting that Bcl-2 regulates ion transport to maintain Deltapsi. Although treatment with SF6847 in the absence of Ca2+ caused massive H+ influx in control mitochondria, the presence of Bcl-2 induced H+ efflux after transient H+ influx. In this case, Bcl-2 did not enhance K+ efflux. Furthermore, Bcl-2 enhanced H+ efflux but not K+ flux after treatment of mitochondria with Ca2+ or tert-butyl hydroperoxide. These results suggest that Bcl-2 maintains Deltapsi by enhancing H+ efflux in the presence of Deltapsi-loss-inducing stimuli.