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

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta Vol. 1819; no. 9-10; pp. 1088 - 1097
• Main Author: Scarpulla, Richard C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.09.2012
• Subjects: Animals; biogenesis; Coactivator; Cyclic AMP response element-binding protein; Electron transport; Electron Transport - genetics; electron transport chain; Embryos; Energy; GA-binding protein; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation; genes; Inflammation; Integration; Lethality; Longevity; Metabolic stress; Metabolism; Mice; Mitochondria; Mitochondria - genetics; Mitochondria - metabolism; Nuclear Proteins - genetics; Nuclear Proteins - metabolism; Nucleomitochondrial interaction; Nutrients; Organelles; Oxidants; phenotype; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Respiration; Senescence; Stress; Stress, Physiological; Transcription factor; Transcription factors; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Transcription, Genetic; Translation; translation (genetics); YY1 protein; Coactivator; Mitochondria; Transcription factor; Nucleomitochondrial interaction; Metabolism; Metabolic stress
• ISSN: 1874-9399; 0006-3002; 1876-4320; 1876-4320
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2011.10.011

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. ►Nucleus-encoded factors control the expression mitochondrial respiratory function. ►Nucleus-encoded factors acting within mitochondria are essential for embryogenesis. ►Ablation of factors acting on nuclear respiratory genes results in a range of phenotypes. ►Nuclear coactivators governing respiratory gene expression respond to metabolic stress.