Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta regulates mitofusin 2 expression in the heart

J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2009 Jun;46(6):876-82. doi: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2009.02.020. Epub 2009 Mar 2.

Abstract

Mitofusin 2 (Mfn2) has been proposed as an important mitochondrial protein in maintaining mitochondrial network and bioenergetics. Mfn2 is highly expressed in the heart, but is downregulated in response to hypertrophic stimuli. However, little is known about how Mfn2's expression is regulated in cardiomyocytes. Here, we have investigated how Mfn2 expression in the heart responds to fasting condition and determined if Mfn2 is one of those PPARdelta-selective target genes that are involved in myocardial energy metabolism. Fasting for 48 h in mice led to a robust increase of Mfn2 expression in the heart. On the other hand, cardiomyocyte-restricted PPARdelta deficiency in mice led to substantially diminished cardiac expression of Mfn2 transcript and protein compared to that of controls. Fasting induced cardiac expression of Mfn2 was blunted in cardiomyocyte-restricted PPARdelta deficient hearts. Moreover, PPARdelta-selective ligand treatment in cultured cardiomyocytes induced elevated Mfn2 expression. A functional PPRE consensus sequence located at -837 to -817 bp upstream of the mouse Mfn2 promoter was identified and confirmed by Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assays and Luciferase Promoter Reporter Assays. We conclude that Mfn2 is a PPARdelta-selective target, which may play an important role in regulating myocardial energy homeostasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay
  • Fasting / physiology
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases / genetics
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / genetics
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / metabolism
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / drug effects
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism
  • PPAR delta / antagonists & inhibitors
  • PPAR delta / genetics
  • PPAR delta / physiology*
  • Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Rats
  • Thiazoles / pharmacology
  • Trans-Activators / genetics
  • Trans-Activators / physiology
  • Transcription Factors

Substances

  • Membrane Proteins
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • PPAR delta
  • Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha
  • Ppargc1a protein, mouse
  • Thiazoles
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • (4-(((2-(3-fluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-4-methyl-1,3-thiazol-5-yl)methyl)sulfanyl)-2-methylphenoxy)acetic acid
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases
  • Mfn2 protein, mouse
  • Mfn2 protein, rat