Biogenesis of mitochondria is happening constantly due to the physiological and developmental situation of a cell. As mitochondrial biogenesis is a complex process producing about 20 % of cellular protein, the expression of the 1000 genes involved is expected to be coordinated and regulated tightly. The variety of physiological stimuli and differentiation states lead to the idea of a complex network connecting many different regulatory pathways. By analysing nuclear encoded mitochondrial genes some of the factors involved in the regulation and coordination of mitochondrial gene expression were identified. These factors include general transcription factors such as Sp1 or YY1, as well as transcription factors specific for mitochondrial genes like the nuclear respiratory factors NRF1 and 2. An important control function linked to the physiological situation of a cell is triggered by hormones such as steroid and thyroid hormones. Even cell type-specific regulatory proteins like the myogenin transcription factor family have a strong influence on some mitochondrial genes in the specific cellular background. The regulatory function of most of these proteins can be modulated and enhanced by the coactivators PGC-1a and b and PRC. Although regulatory pathways have been characterized in more detail in recent years, no regulation mechanism has been shown to work on all analysed mitochondrial genes, and the general concept of mitochondrial regulation still remains unclear.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. M. R. LeMoine, C. E. Genge, and C. D. Moyes Role of the PGC-1 family in the metabolic adaptation of goldfish to diet and temperature J. Exp. Biol., May 1, 2008; 211(9): 1448 - 1455. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Z. Ungvari, N. Labinskyy, S. Gupte, P. N. Chander, J. G. Edwards, and A. Csiszar Dysregulation of mitochondrial biogenesis in vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells of aged rats Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, May 1, 2008; 294(5): H2121 - H2128. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Wang, Y. Zhang, E. Yehuda-Shnaidman, A. V. Medvedev, N. Kumar, K. W. Daniel, J. Robidoux, M. P. Czech, D. J. Mangelsdorf, and S. Collins Liver X Receptor {alpha} Is a Transcriptional Repressor of the Uncoupling Protein 1 Gene and the Brown Fat Phenotype Mol. Cell. Biol., April 1, 2008; 28(7): 2187 - 2200. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Franko, S. Mayer, G. Thiel, L. Mercy, T. Arnould, H.-T. Hornig-Do, R. J. Wiesner, and S. Goffart CREB-1{alpha} Is Recruited to and Mediates Upregulation of the Cytochrome c Promoter during Enhanced Mitochondrial Biogenesis Accompanying Skeletal Muscle Differentiation Mol. Cell. Biol., April 1, 2008; 28(7): 2446 - 2459. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Sinha, A. S. Adler, Y. Field, H. Y. Chang, and E. Segal Systematic functional characterization of cis-regulatory motifs in human core promoters Genome Res., March 1, 2008; 18(3): 477 - 488. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. H. Mortensen, P. Plomgaard, C. P. Fischer, A. K. Hansen, H. Pilegaard, and B. K. Pedersen PGC-1beta is downregulated by training in human skeletal muscle: no effect of training twice every second day vs. once daily on expression of the PGC-1 family J Appl Physiol, November 1, 2007; 103(5): 1536 - 1542. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Zungu, M. P. Alcolea, F. J. Garcia-Palmer, M. E. Young, and M. F. Essop Genomic modulation of mitochondrial respiratory genes in the hypertrophied heart reflects adaptive changes in mitochondrial and contractile function Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, November 1, 2007; 293(5): H2819 - H2825. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Newsholme, E. P. Haber, S. M. Hirabara, E. L. O. Rebelato, J. Procopio, D. Morgan, H. C. Oliveira-Emilio, A. R. Carpinelli, and R. Curi Diabetes associated cell stress and dysfunction: role of mitochondrial and non-mitochondrial ROS production and activity J. Physiol., August 15, 2007; 583(1): 9 - 24. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Rodriguez-Cuenca, M. Monjo, M. Gianotti, A. M. Proenza, and P. Roca Expression of mitochondrial biogenesis-signaling factors in brown adipocytes is influenced specifically by 17beta-estradiol, testosterone, and progesterone Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, January 1, 2007; 292(1): E340 - E346. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Ostrowski, K. Klimek-Tomczak, L. S. Wyrwicz, M. Mikula, D. S. Schullery, and K. Bomsztyk Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein K Enhances Insulin-induced Expression of Mitochondrial UCP2 Protein J. Biol. Chem., December 24, 2004; 279(52): 54599 - 54609. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Goffart, J.-C. von Kleist-Retzow, and R. J. Wiesner Regulation of mitochondrial proliferation in the heart: power-plant failure contributes to cardiac failure in hypertrophy Cardiovasc Res, November 1, 2004; 64(2): 198 - 207. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]