Figure 11. Cytosolic Grx1 downregulation results in loss of mitochondrial membrane potential:

Downregulation of cytosolic Grx1 leads to modification of critical thiol groups of the outer mitochondrial membrane protein VDAC, resulting in loss of membrane potential which could eventually lead to cell death. Grx1 expression is regulated by estrogen and its upregulation by estrogen prevents MMP loss by maintaining redox status of critical thiol groups in the mitochondria.