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Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1389-5575
ISSN (Online): 1875-5607

Research Article

The Translocator Protein 18 kDa (TSPO) and Its Role in Mitochondrial Biology and Psychiatric Disorders

Author(s): Vladimir M. Milenkovic, Rainer Rupprecht and Christian H. Wetzel

Volume 15, Issue 5, 2015

Page: [366 - 372] Pages: 7

DOI: 10.2174/1389557515666150324122642

Price: $65

Abstract

The translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) is localized in the outer mitochondrial membrane of many cell types and its expression is found to be up-regulated under various pathological conditions such as cancer, inflammation, mechanical lesions, and neurological diseases, e.g. amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Its primary function is to mediate the transport of cholesterol into the inner compartments of mitochondria. Moreover, TSPO is interacting and building up functional complexes with other mitochondrial proteins such as the voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC), the adenine nucleotide transporter (ANT), hexokinase I and II and Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β). This mini review will focus on the role of TSPO as a central regulator of mitochondrial function with regard to pathologic states and as a target for new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of psychiatric disorders.

Keywords: Cholesterol, TSPO, mitochondria, XBD-173, PK11195.


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