Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology:3

About	Study of Tissue Regeneration Mechanisms Involving Adult Stem Cells. Group under the leadership of Igor Prudnikov	Mitochondrial Pathways in Cell Death via Apoptosis. Group under the leadership of Olga Akopova.

Mitochondrial Pathways in Cell Death via Apoptosis.

Group under the leadership of Olga Akopova.

This group investigates normal and pathological mitochondrial function in adult and embryonic nervous tissue, with a focus on ATP-dependent potassium channels (KATP channels) in mitochondrial membranes. We found that potassium (K⁺) uptake influences reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in brain mitochondria under steady-state conditions (state 4), mediated by potassium-dependent changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). The impact of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening on ROS production was also studied. ROS production is differentially regulated by oxygen consumption rates and membrane potential under steady-state and non-equilibrium conditions. In steady-state conditions, with constant Ca²⁺ cycling and oxygen consumption, ROS production is potential-dependent and decreases with inhibited respiration and mitochondrial depolarization. Approximately 40% of potential-dependent K⁺ uptake in brain mitochondria was attributed to ATP-dependent transport. These findings suggest that potential-dependent K⁺ transport is a physiologically significant regulator of ROS generation in brain mitochondria, and the native KATP channel’s functional activity may serve as an effective mechanism to prevent ROS overproduction in brain neurons under physiological conditions.