PolyP of mammalian cells, Evgeny Pavlov, Physiology and Biophysics, Dalhousie University

Inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) is a naturally occurring polymer made from as few as 10 to several hundred orthophosphate molecules linked by phosphoanhydride bonds similar to ones present in ATP. PolyP is the most ancient macromolecule, which has been conserved in nature since pre-biotic times and is found in all living organisms ranging from primitive bacteria to humans. While important role of polyP in function of prokaryotic organisms is well established, much less is known on what (if any) role polyP might play in function of higher eukaryotes. In my talk I will present results of our experimental work, which suggest that polyP of mammalian cells might play important and diverse roles, including participation in the mitochondrial membrane transport, energy metabolism and regulation of the cell membrane ion channel activity.