1. Mitochondrial fusion is increased by the nuclear coactivator PGC-1beta.
- Author
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Liesa M, Borda-d'Agua B, Medina-Gómez G, Lelliott CJ, Paz JC, Rojo M, Palacín M, Vidal-Puig A, and Zorzano A
- Subjects
- Animals, Cell Fusion, Cells, Cultured, GTP Phosphohydrolases genetics, Gene Expression Regulation, HeLa Cells, Humans, Liver metabolism, Mice, Mice, Knockout, Muscle, Skeletal metabolism, Myocardium metabolism, Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha, Receptors, Estrogen metabolism, Receptors, Estrogen physiology, Trans-Activators genetics, Transcription Factors, Transcription, Genetic, ERRalpha Estrogen-Related Receptor, Mitochondria physiology, Mitochondrial Size genetics, Trans-Activators physiology
- Abstract
Background: There is no evidence to date on whether transcriptional regulators are able to shift the balance between mitochondrial fusion and fission events through selective control of gene expression., Methodology/principal Findings: Here, we demonstrate that reduced mitochondrial size observed in knock-out mice for the transcriptional regulator PGC-1beta is associated with a selective reduction in Mitofusin 2 (Mfn2) expression, a mitochondrial fusion protein. This decrease in Mfn2 is specific since expression of the remaining components of mitochondrial fusion and fission machinery were not affected. Furthermore, PGC-1beta increases mitochondrial fusion and elongates mitochondrial tubules. This PGC-1beta-induced elongation specifically requires Mfn2 as this process is absent in Mfn2-ablated cells. Finally, we show that PGC-1beta increases Mfn2 promoter activity and transcription by coactivating the nuclear receptor Estrogen Related Receptor alpha (ERRalpha)., Conclusions/significance: Taken together, our data reveal a novel mechanism by which mammalian cells control mitochondrial fusion. In addition, we describe a novel role of PGC-1beta in mitochondrial physiology, namely the control of mitochondrial fusion mainly through Mfn2.
- Published
- 2008
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