Title: A fundamental system of cellular energy homeostasis regulated by PGC-1alpha
Description: Mitochondria are responsible for producing most of the ATP needed for eukaryotic cell function. In oxidative phosphorylation, or coupled respiration, the proton gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane is coupled to the synthesis of ATP by the F 1 F 0 ATPase. In uncoupled respiration, many of the protons pumped into the intermembrane space leak back into the matrix, bypassing ATP production making metabolism less efficient. Based on this, DNP, a chemical uncoupler of mitochondrial respiration, was used in the 1930's as a treatment for obesity. It was banned, however, when unregulated use led to toxicity and death. One might expect that a compound that interferes with cellular energy production would be extremely toxic. However, it is clear from clinical trials that when used under a physician's supervision, DNP was quite effective and safe, suggesting that cells employ a compensatory pathway for survival. This dissertation investigated the hypothesis that uncoupling of mitochondria activates a compensatory pathway controlling energy homeostasis. We found that chemical uncoupling in fibroblasts caused ATP levels to drop initially, but the levels were restored within several hours, accompanied by increases in mitochondrial density. We also found that uncoupling increased the expression of PGC-1α, a transcriptional coactivator and dominant regulator of mitochondrial function and biogenesis in many tissues.

The expression of PGC-1β, a PGC-1α homolog, and several oxidative phosphorylation genes were also significantly increased. We determined that PGC-1α expression stimulated by uncoupling was triggered by a burst of intracellular calcium, concomitant with increases in CREB and TORC actions on the PGC-1α promoter. Further investigation of the role of PGC-1α in the response to uncoupling demonstrated that PGC-1α was essential for the induction of mitochondrial gene expression, recovery of ATP levels, and cell survival following treatment with these agents. Taken together, these data illustrate that a fundamental transcriptional pathway exists that maintains cellular energy homeostasis in response to chronic uncoupling of mitochondria and reveal a critical role for PGC-1α in the ability of a cell to adapt to perturbations of energy metabolism. This compensatory system limits the toxicity of uncoupling and suggests a reconsideration of the use of chemical uncouplers to treat obesity.