Defects in adaptive energy metabolism with CNS-linked hyperactivity in PGC-1α null mice

Jiandie Lin, Pei Hsuan Wu, Paul T. Tarr, Katrin S. Lindenberg, Julie St-Pierre, Chen Yu Zhang, Vamsi K. Mootha, Sibylle Jäger, Claudia R. Vianna, Richard M. Reznick, Libin Cui, Monia Manieri, Mi X. Donovan, Zhidan Wu, Marcus P. Cooper, Melina C. Fan, Lindsay M. Rohas, Ann Marie Zavacki, Saverio Cinti, Gerald I. ShulmanBradford B. Lowell, Dimitri Krainc, Bruce M. Spiegelman*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1064 Scopus citations

Abstract

PGC-1α is a coactivator of nuclear receptors and other transcription factors that regulates several metabolic processes, including mitochondrial biogenesis and respiration, hepatic gluconeogenesis, and muscle fiber-type switching. We show here that, while hepatocytes lacking PGC-1α are defective in the program of hormone-stimulated gluconeogenesis, the mice have constitutively activated gluconeogenic gene expression that is completely insensitive to normal feeding controls. C/EBPβ is elevated in the livers of these mice and activates the gluconeogenic genes in a PGC-1α-independent manner. Despite having reduced mitochondrial function, PGC-1α null mice are paradoxically lean and resistant to diet-induced obesity. This is largely due to a profound hyperactivity displayed by the null animals and is associated with lesions in the striatal region of the brain that controls movement. These data illustrate a central role for PGC-1α in the control of energy metabolism but also reveal novel systemic compensatory mechanisms and pathogenic effects of impaired energy homeostasis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)121-135
Number of pages15
JournalCell
Volume119
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2004

Funding

We thank Drs. Eric Bachman and Pere Puigserver for comments and critiques on the manuscript. We also thank Dr. P. Reed Larsen for T3 antibody; Eric Smith for computer graphics support; and Jia Yu and Mingtao Lee for technical assistance in ES cell manipulations and CLAMS studies, respectively. This work is supported by grants from the N.I.H., DK54477 and DK61562 (B.M.S.), DK40936 (G.I.S.), NS002174 and NS045242 (D.K.) and DK065584 (J.L.), and QLK1-2001-00183 DLARFID (S.C.).

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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