The Groundbreaking Research on Mitochondrial Hyperpolarization and Apoptosis: A Detailed Account by Professor Kim Jong-min

2023-08-30 08:04:38

[유영현의 의학 논문 속 사람 이야기]

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논문 5: Kim JM, Bae HR, Park BS, Lee JM, Ahn HB, Rho JH, Yoo KW, Park WC, Rho SH, Yoon HS, Yoo YH. Early mitochondrial hyperpolarization and intracellular alkalinization in lactacystin-induced apoptosis of retinal pigment epithelial cells. J Pharmacol Exp Ther, 2003;305:474-481.

■Professor Kim Jong-min, Dong-A University School of Medicine (Anatomy Department)
Academic Significance: Identification of mitochondrial membrane potential hyperpolarization and cytoplasmic alkalinization

In the early days of Professor Jongmin Kim’s appointment, this paper was obtained during data meetings while sharing laboratory equipment and manpower. At the laboratory meeting at the time, the researcher repeatedly reported that “‘hyperpolarization’ was observed in the ‘membrane potential’ of mitochondria dying from apoptosis.”

Dong-A University School of Medicine Professor Kim Jong-min (front row, center). He is also the president of the Busan-Gyeongnam branch of the Korean Society of Anatomy. [사진=유영현 교수]Here, the difference in potential caused by the difference between negative and positive charges across the cell membrane is called membrane potential. During the resting period, negative charges are placed on the inside of the membrane and positive charges are on the outside, showing a negative potential difference, which is called polarization.

Usually, when a cell is stimulated and excited, the membrane potential rises from the resting period, and this is called ‘depolarization’. Hyperpolarization means a potential difference greater than the polarization.

When an apoptotic stimulus is given to a cell, the mitochondrial membrane potential depolarizes. As mitochondrial depolarization was regularly observed, mitochondria began to receive attention in cell death.

Finally, Guido Kroemer, a world-renowned life scientist, discovered that “when cells are stimulated for cell death and depolarized mitochondria are introduced into normal cells, cells die.” This discovery, which revealed that the control center of cell death is not the nucleus but the mitochondria, became a major event in life science.

Since then, mitochondrial membrane depolarization data have become essential data in apoptosis studies. However, conflict arose over repeated reports that the mitochondrial membrane potential, which should of course be depolarized, was hyperpolarized.

If there are data that are difficult to interpret, I do not conduct additional experiments and do not include the data in the thesis. However, the phenomenon of mitochondrial membrane potential hyperpolarization might not be overlooked.

I did not have a background in physiology to solve problems well, but Professor Kim had experience in physiology research. After painstaking analysis, we finally identified the mechanism of hyperpolarization.

The research results were published in JPET, which has long enjoyed authority in the field of pharmacology since its inception in 1909. This dissertation was also a great help for Professor Kim to pass through the new appointment and reappointment barrier that he had to overcome soon.

With Professor Kim Jong-min, who made the thesis, we are on our own path to growth.

However, following this study, we each realized that it is difficult to work together to produce successful results. I gave up the dream I had when I was hired as Professor Kim. I was disappointed.

However, when I looked at myself, who was disappointed, the secret was revealed that I had selfishness to use the new faculty research ability as an opportunity for my research leap. I soon accepted this situation.

Professor Kim ran an independent laboratory. Korean science trading companies readily supply equipment on credit to newly appointed teachers. Soon following, Professor Kim gathered a lot of equipment and manpower and built his laboratory infrastructure brilliantly.

Thanks to that, conflicts that might arise from sharing the lab did not arise between me and Professor Kim. If there is nothing in common, there is no conflict. These are the lessons I learned from my relationship with Professor Kim. Professor Kim and I still maintain a good relationship that is envied by the people around us.

However, if there is a ‘positive’, there is also a ‘negative’. Professor Kim has long suffered from the followingeffects of the financial burden he incurred while building laboratory infrastructure. It was also hard for me to look at it from the side.

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