Localization of the voltage-dependent anion channel-1 Ca²⁺-binding sites

Photoreactive azido ruthenium (AzRu) has been recently shown to specifically interact with Ca²⁺-binding proteins and to strongly inhibit their Ca²⁺-dependent activities. Upon UV irradiation, AzRu can bind covalently to such proteins. In this study, AzRu was used to localize and characterize Ca²⁺-binding sites in the voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC). AzRu decreased the conductance of VDAC reconstituted into a bilayer while Ca²⁺, in the presence of 1 M NaCl, but not Mg²⁺, prevented this effect. AzRu had no effect on mutated E72Q- or E202Q-VDAC1 conductance, and [¹⁰³Ru]AzRu labeled native but not E72Q-VDAC1, suggesting that these residues are required for AzRu interaction with the VDAC Ca²⁺-binding site(s). AzRu protected against apoptosis induced by over-expression of native but not E72Q- or E202Q- murine VDAC1 in T-REx-293 cells depleted of endogenous hVDAC1. Chymotrypsin and trypsin digestion of AzRu-labeled VDAC followed by MALDI-TOF analysis revealed two AzRu-bound peptides corresponding to E72- and E202-containing sequences. These results suggest that the VDAC Ca²⁺-binding site includes E72 and E202, located, according to a proposed VDAC1 topology model, on two distinct cytosolic loops. Furthermore, AzRu protection against apoptosis involves interaction with these residues. Photoreactive AzRu represents an important tool for identifying novel Ca²⁺-binding proteins and localizing their Ca²⁺-binding sites.