PGC-1 beta-regulated mitochondrial biogenesis and function in myotubes is mediated by NRF-1 and ERR alpha

Deletion of heart-type cytochrome c oxidase subunit 7a1 impairs skeletal muscle angiogenesis and oxidative phosphorylation

Oxidative metabolism is needed for sustained skeletal muscle function. A key component of such metabolism is cytochrome c oxidase, the 13-subunit terminal complex of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. We used mice null for one of the two isoforms of Cox subunit 7a, heart/skeletal muscle-specific Cox7a1, to examine the cellular and functional responses of muscle adaptation in response to mitochondrial dysfunction. Specifically we determined if deletion of Cox7a1 would (1) limit exercise capacity, and (2) alter genes responsible for skeletal muscle capillarity and mitochondrial biogenesis. Sixteen male mice (Cox7a1 null mice, n = 8, and littermate controls, n = 8) performed incremental and run-to-exhaustion treadmill tests. The hindlimb muscles for both groups were analysed. The results indicated that capillary indices were reduced (by 30.7–44.9%) in the Cox7a1 null mice relative to controls. In addition, resting ATP levels and Cox specific activity were significantly reduced (>60%) in both glycolytic and oxidative muscle fibre types despite an increase in a major regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis, PGC-1β. These changes in the skeletal muscle resulted in exercise intolerance for the Cox7a1 null mice. Thus, our data indicate that deletion of the Cox7a1 isoform results in reduced muscle bioenergetics and hindlimb capillarity, helping to explain the observed impairment of muscle structure and function.

Peripheral nerve graft with immunosuppression modifies gene expression in axotomized CNS neurons

Adult central nervous system (CNS) neurons do not regenerate severed axons unaided but may regenerate axons into apposed predegenerated peripheral nerve grafts (PNGs). We examined gene expression by using microarray technology in laser-dissected lateral vestibular (LV) neurons whose axons were severed by a lateral hemisection at C3 (HX) and in lateral vestibular nucleus (LVN) neurons that were hemisected at C3 and that received immunosuppression with cyclosporine A (CsA) and a predegenerated PNG (termed I-PNG) into the lesion site. The results provide an expression analysis of temporal changes that occur in LVN neurons in nonregenerative and potentially regenerative states and over a period of 42 days. Axotomy alone resulted in a prolonged change in regulation of probe sets, with more being upregulated than downregulated. Apposition of a PNG with immunosuppression muted gene expression overall. Axotomized neurons (HX) upregulated genes commonly associated with axonal growth, whereas axotomized neurons whose axons were apposed to the PNG showed diminished expression of many of these genes but greater expression of genes related to energy production. The results suggest that axotomized LVN neurons express many genes thought to be associated with regeneration to a greater extent than LVN neurons that are apposed to a PNG. Thus the LVN neurons remain in a regenerative state following axotomy but the conditions provided by the I-PNG appear to be neuroprotective, preserving or enhancing mitochondrial activity, which may provide required energy for regeneration. We speculate that the graft also enables sufficient axonal synthesis of cytoskeletal components to allow axonal growth without marked increase in expression of genes normally associated with regeneration.

Transcriptional regulation of temperature-induced remodeling of muscle bioenergetics in goldfish

Central to mammalian mitochondrial biogenesis is the transcriptional master regulator peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), and a network of DNA-binding proteins it coactivates. We explored the role of this pathway in muscle mitochondrial biogenesis in response to thermal acclimation in goldfish (Carassius auratus). We investigated the transcriptional response of PGC-1α, PGC-1β, and their antagonist the nuclear receptor interacting protein 1 (RIP140), as well as the mRNA and protein patterns of DNA-binding proteins that bind PGC-1, including nuclear respiratory factors (NRF) 1 and 2, retinoid X receptor α (RXRα), estrogen-related receptor α (ERRα), thyroid receptor α-1 (TRα-1), PPARα, and PPARβ/δ, and the host cell factor 1 (HCF1), which links PGC-1 and NRF-2. Cold-acclimated (4°C) fish had higher COX activities (4.5-fold) and COX4-1 mRNA levels (3.5-fold per total RNA; 6.5-fold per gram tissue) than warm-acclimated (32°C) fish. The transcription factor patterns were profoundly influenced by changes in RNA per gram tissue (2-fold higher in cold fish) and nuclear protein content (2-fold higher in warm fish). In cold-acclimated fish, mRNA per gram tissue was elevated for PGC-1β, RIP140, NRF-1, HCF1, NRF-2α, NRF-2β-2, ERRα, PPAR β/δ, and RXRα, but other transcriptional regulators either did not change (PGC-1α, PPARα) or even decreased (TRα-1). Nuclear protein levels in cold-acclimated fish were higher only for NRF-1; other proteins were either unaffected (NRF-2α, ERRα) or decreased (NRF-2β1/2, TRα, RXRα). Collectively, these data support the role for NRF-1 in regulating cold-induced mitochondrial biogenesis in goldfish, with effects mediated by PGC-1β, rather than PGC-1α.

Crosstalk between mitochondrial (dys)function and mitochondrial abundance

A controlled regulation of mitochondrial mass through either the production (biogenesis) or the degradation (mitochondrial quality control) of the organelle represents a crucial step for proper mitochondrial and cell function. Key steps of mitochondrial biogenesis and quality control are overviewed, with an emphasis on the role of mitochondrial chaperones and proteases that keep mitochondria fully functional, provided the mitochondrial activity impairment is not excessive. In this case, the whole organelle is degraded by mitochondrial autophagy or "mitophagy." Beside the maintenance of adequate mitochondrial abundance and functions for cell homeostasis, mitochondrial biogenesis might be enhanced, through discussed signaling pathways, in response to various physiological stimuli, like contractile activity, exposure to low temperatures, caloric restriction, and stem cells differentiation. In addition, mitochondrial dysfunction might also initiate a retrograde response, enabling cell adaptation through increased mitochondrial biogenesis.

Lipoic acid administration prevents nonalcoholic steatosis linked to long-term high-fat feeding by modulating mitochondrial function

Nonalcoholic steatosis is an important hepatic complication of obesity linked to mitochondrial dysfunction and insulin resistance. Furthermore, lipoic acid has been reported to have beneficial effects on mitochondrial function. In this study, we analyzed the potential protective effect of lipoic acid supplementation against the development of nonalcoholic steatosis associated with a long-term high-fat diet feeding and the potential mechanism of this effect. Wistar rats were fed on a standard diet (n=10), a high-fat diet (n=10) and a high-fat diet supplemented with lipoic acid (n=10). A group pair-fed to the latter group (n=6) was also included. Lipoic acid prevented hepatic triglyceride accumulation and liver damage in rats fed a high-fat diet (-68%±11.3% vs. obese group) through the modulation of genes involved in lipogenesis and mitochondrial β-oxidation and by improving insulin sensitivity. Moreover, this molecule showed an inhibitory action on electron transport chain complexes activities (P<.01-P<.001) and adenosine triphosphate synthesis (P<.05), and reduced significantly energy efficiency. By contrast, lipoic acid induced an increase in mitochondrial copy number and in Ucp2 gene expression (P<.001 vs. obese). In summary, this investigation demonstrated the ability of lipoic acid to prevent nonalcoholic steatosis induced by a high-fat intake. Finally, the novelty and importance of this study are the finding of how lipoic acid modulates some of the mitochondrial processes involved in energy homeostasis. The reduction in mitochondrial energy efficiency could also explain, at least in part, the beneficial effects of lipoic acid not only in fatty liver but also in preventing excessive body weight gain.

HIF1α induced switch from bivalent to exclusively glycolytic metabolism during ESC-to-EpiSC/hESC transition

The function of metabolic state in stemness is poorly understood. Mouse embryonic stem cells (ESC) and epiblast stem cells (EpiSC) are at distinct pluripotent states representing the inner cell mass (ICM) and epiblast embryos. Human embryonic stem cells (hESC) are similar to EpiSC stage. We now show a dramatic metabolic difference between these two stages. EpiSC/hESC are highly glycolytic, while ESC are bivalent in their energy production, dynamically switching from glycolysis to mitochondrial respiration on demand. Despite having a more developed and expanding mitochondrial content, EpiSC/hESC have low mitochondrial respiratory capacity due to low cytochrome c oxidase (COX) expression. Similarly, in vivo epiblasts suppress COX levels. These data reveal EpiSC/hESC functional similarity to the glycolytic phenotype in cancer (Warburg effect). We further show that hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) is sufficient to drive ESC to a glycolytic Activin/Nodal-dependent EpiSC-like stage. This metabolic switch during early stem-cell development may be deterministic.

Variation in sequence and expression of the avian FTO, and association with glucose metabolism, body weight, fatness and body composition in chickens

OBJECTIVE

The fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO), a crucial gene that affects human obesity and metabolism, has been widely studied in mammals but remains poorly characterized in birds. We aimed to identify variant FTO transcripts in domestic avian species, and to characterize the expression and biological functions of FTO in chickens.

METHODS

Variant FTO transcripts and their expression in birds were investigated using RACE and real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR technology. The effects of FTO on glucose metabolism, growth and body composition were determined by fasting and various diet treatments, as well as association analysis in a F₂ resource population. The function of cFTO1 was further studied by overexpression in chick embryo fibroblast (CEF) cells.

RESULTS

Variant FTO transcripts were identified in chicken (cFTO1 to cFTO4), duck (dFTO1, dFTO2 and dFTO4) and goose (gFTO1, gFTO2 and gFTO5). In the chicken, the complete transcript (cFTO1) was predominantly expressed in the leg muscle, pituitary, hypothalamus and cerebellum. Fasting increased both cFTO1 and PGC1α gene expression in the cerebrum, liver, breast muscle and subcutaneous fat, but decreased expression in the pituitary and anterior hypothalamus. In all tested tissues in chickens, a high-glucose diet markedly increased cFTO1 and PGC1α expression. Feeding a high-fat diet increased both cFTO1 and PGC1α expression, except in the pituitary. Overexpression of cFTO1 in CEF cells significantly increased the expression of PGC1α (2.5-fold), STAT3 (2.2-fold) and HL (1.5-fold), a cluster of genes related to energy metabolism. A total of 65 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in chicken FTO, and 18 tested SNPs were significantly associated with traits of body weight, body composition and fatness.

CONCLUSIONS

These data collectively indicate that FTO is related to glucose metabolism, body weight, fatness and body composition in birds, thus expanding knowledge of FTO function to non-mammalian species.

Nucleus-encoded regulators of mitochondrial function: integration of respiratory chain expression, nutrient sensing and metabolic stress

Nucleus-encoded regulatory factors are major contributors to mitochondrial biogenesis and function. Several act within the organelle to regulate mitochondrial transcription and translation while others direct the expression of nuclear genes encoding the respiratory chain and other oxidative functions. Loss-of-function studies for many of these factors reveal a wide spectrum of phenotypes. These range from embryonic lethality and severe respiratory chain deficiency to relatively mild mitochondrial defects seen only under conditions of physiological stress. The PGC-1 family of regulated coactivators (PGC-1α, PGC-1β and PRC) plays an important integrative role through their interactions with transcription factors (NRF-1, NRF-2, ERRα, CREB, YY1 and others) that control respiratory gene expression. In addition, recent evidence suggests that PGC-1 coactivators may balance the cellular response to oxidant stress by promoting a pro-oxidant environment or by orchestrating an inflammatory response to severe metabolic stress. These pathways may serve as essential links between the energy generating functions of mitochondria and the cellular REDOX environment associated with longevity, senescence and disease. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Mitochondrial Gene Expression.

PGC-1β modulates the expression of genes involved in mitochondrial function and adipogenesis during preadipocyte differentiation

This study determined the expression of genes involved in mitochondrial function and adipogenesis at mRNA and protein levels by transfecting rat differentiating preadipocytes with siRNA/Lipofectamine complex and pcDNA-PGC-1β (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1β)/Lipofectamine complex, respectively, to further elucidate the role of PGC-1β in white preadipocyte differentiation. The results showed that the transfection of PGC-1β siRNA inhibited the expressions of mitochondrial genes malate dehydrogenase, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1, nuclear respiratory factor 1, ATP synthesis, adipocyte differentiation key transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c and fatty acid synthetase, whereas the triglyceride synthesis was retarded (p < 0.05). Furthermore, overexpression of PGC-1β up-regulated the expressions of adipogenic and mitochondrial biosynthetic marker genes and promoted triglyceride accumulation during 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation. These observations suggest that PGC-1β modulates the expression of mitochondrial function and adipogenesis-related genes and affects white preadipocyte differentiation.

PGC-1-related coactivator (PRC), a sensor of metabolic stress, orchestrates a redox-sensitive program of inflammatory gene expression

PGC-1-related coactivator (PRC) is a growth-regulated transcriptional cofactor that activates many nuclear genes specifying mitochondrial respiratory function. Stable PRC silencing in U2OS cells results in a complex phenotype typical of mitochondrial dysfunction including abundant abnormal mitochondria, reduced respiratory subunit expression, diminished respiratory enzymes and ATP levels, and elevated lactate production. The PRC response to metabolic stress was investigated by subjecting cells to metabolic insults including treatment with the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), expression of a dominant negative allele of nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF-1), and glucose deprivation. These treatments led to constitutively elevated PRC protein levels, a departure from its normal transient expression upon the initiation of cell growth. A microarray screen identified 45 genes that require PRC for their induction by CCCP. A subset of these genes specific to inflammation and cell stress was also induced by dominant negative NRF-1 and by glucose deprivation, suggesting that diverse metabolic insults converge on the same PRC-dependent inflammatory program. The PRC-dependent inflammatory response was inhibited by N-acetylcysteine, suggesting that PRC may contribute to the inflammatory microenvironment linked to oxidant signaling. The induction of this PRC-dependent program may be an early event in adaptations linked to cancer and degenerative diseases.

The PGC-1α-related coactivator promotes mitochondrial and myogenic adaptations in C2C12 myotubes

The transcriptional coactivator PGC-1α is a potent regulator of skeletal muscle metabolism. Less is known about the structurally similar PGC-1α-related coactivator (PRC) that is enriched in myoblasts and adult skeletal muscle. The present study was designed to determine the effect of PRC on the metabolic profile of C2C12 myotubes. Overexpression of full-length PRC increased PRC gene expression by 2.7 ± 0.3-fold and protein content by 108 ± 5.3%. This modest elevation in PRC resulted in an increased rate of myoblast proliferation (61.5 ± 2.7%) and resulted in myotubes characterized by increased MyoD (18.2 ± 0.52%) and myosin heavy chain (15.4 ± 3.13%) protein. PRC overexpressing myotubes showed increases in mRNA for some-COX4 (2.6 ± 0.18-fold), ATP5B (2.7 ± 0.34-fold) cytochrome c (5.1 ± 0.68-fold)-but not all, MTCO1 (0.61 ± 0.18-fold) and HAD (0.98 ± 0.36-fold) mitochondrial genes, as well as a significant increase in cytochrome-c (28.7 ± 7.02%) protein content. The enzyme activity of the electron transport chain (ETC) complex IV (3.7 ± 0.01-fold) and citrate synthase (2.1 ± 0.14-fold) was increased by PRC, as was the mtDNA:nucDNA ratio (11 ± 0.3%). PRC increased cellular respiration (142%), basal (197%) and insulin-stimulated (253%) glucose uptake, as well as palmitate uptake (28.6 ± 3.31%) and oxidation (31.1 ± 2.17%). Associated with these changes in function, PRC overexpression increased GLUT4 mRNA (4.5 ± 0.22-fold) and protein (13.8 ± 2.08%) and CPT1 protein (28.9 ± 4.23%). Electrical stimulation of C2C12 myotubes resulted in a transient increase in PRC mRNA that was smaller (2.1 ± 0.3-fold vs. 4.4 ± 0.23-fold) and occurred earlier (3 h vs. 6 h) than PGC-1α. Collectively, our data show that PRC promotes skeletal muscle myogenesis and metabolism in vitro, thus identifying PRC as a functional skeletal muscle coactivator capable of regulating mitochondrial substrate utilization and respiration.