VDAC2

Non-selective voltage-gated ion channel that mediates the transport of anions and cations through the mitochondrion outer membrane and plasma membrane. The channel adopts an open conformation at zero mV and a closed conformation at both positive and negative potentials. There are two populations of channels; the main that functions in a lower open-state conductance with lower ion selectivity, that switch, in a voltage-dependent manner, from the open to a low-conducting 'closed' state and the other that has a normal ion selectivity in the typical high conductance, 'open' state. Binds various lipids, including the sphingolipid ceramide, the phospholipid phosphatidylcholine, and the sterols cholesterol and oxysterol. Binding of ceramide promotes the mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP) apoptotic pathway. Associates with the translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane (TOM) complex and PINK1 kinase at depolarized mitochondria, this interaction stabilizes PINK1 at the outer mitochondrial membrane and triggers downstream mitophagy by the recruitment of the E3 ubiquitin ligase PRKN..

Function from UniProtKB (P45880), read 2026-09-23. CC BY 4.0.