“Switch of ADP/ATP translocase isoforms in cellular senescence and malignancy”

Four isoforms of human ATD/ADP translocators (ANTs) have poorly understood functional differences. Due to their high sequence similarity, antibody-based detection of these proteins is challenging. We, therefore, developed a sensitive proteomic method for detecting ATD/ADP translocator isoforms and their relative ratio. Using this technique, we observed a switch of ANT isoforms during senescence establishment associated with changes in cellular energy metabolism. The switch of ANT protein isoforms was not correlated with the change of ANT transcripts. Similarly, we found a non-correlation of ANT transcripts with corresponding proteins in patients‘ glioblastoma and lung cancer samples. We concluded that protein levels of ANT isoforms are regulated on multiple levels and are tightly linked to mitochondria biogenesis.