Routes for Potassium Ions across Mitochondrial Membranes: A Biophysical Point of View with Special Focus on the ATP-Sensitive K(+) Channel

Potassium ions can cross both the outer and inner mitochondrial membranes by means of multiple routes. A few potassium-permeable ion channels exist in the outer membrane, while in the inner membrane, a multitude of different potassium-selective and potassium-permeable channels mediate K(+) uptake into energized mitochondria. In contrast, potassium is exported from the matrix thanks to an H(+)/K(+) exchanger whose molecular identity is still debated. Among the K(+) channels of the inner mitochondrial membrane, the most widely studied is the ATP-dependent potassium channel, whose pharmacological activation protects cells against ischemic damage and neuronal injury. In this review, we briefly summarize and compare the different hypotheses regarding the molecular identity of this patho-physiologically relevant channel, taking into account the electrophysiological characteristics of the proposed components. In addition, we discuss the characteristics of the other channels sharing localization to both the plasma membrane and mitochondria.