Presence of a voltage-dependent anion channel 1 in the rat postsynaptic density fraction

LITTLE is known about the molecular organization and functions of the posts ynaptic density (PSD), a cytoskeletal specialization on the postsynaptic me mbrane. In an attempt to elucidate the protein composition of PSD, we have sequenced a 35 kDa protein of the rat forebrain PSD fraction. Amino acid se quence information of the tryptic peptides and immunoblot analyses revealed that the protein is a voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1). VDAC1 was enriched in the PSD fraction and was partially soluble in 1% n-octyl gluco side (NOG) or Triton X-100. Our data indicate that VDAC1, which is original ly found in the outer mitochondrial membrane, is also present in the centra l nervous system (CNS) synapses in association with the PSD 'core'. (C) 199 9 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.