How Epigenetic Modifications Drive the Expression and Mediate the Action of PGC-1α in the Regulation of Metabolism

• Main Authors: Anne I. Krämer, Christoph Handschin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-10-01
• Series: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
• Subjects: peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (pgc-1α); exercise; metabolism; epigenetics; histone modification; dna methylation; micro rna; gene regulation; thermogenesis; metabolic diseases
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/20/21/5449

Epigenetic changes are a hallmark of short- and long-term transcriptional regulation, and hence instrumental in the control of cellular identity and plasticity. Epigenetic mechanisms leading to changes in chromatin structure, accessibility for recruitment of transcriptional complexes, and interaction of enhancers and promoters all contribute to acute and chronic adaptations of cells, tissues and organs to internal and external perturbations. Similarly, the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) is activated by stimuli that alter the cellular energetic demand, and subsequently controls complex transcriptional networks responsible for cellular plasticity. It thus is of no surprise that PGC-1α is under the control of epigenetic mechanisms, and constitutes a mediator of epigenetic changes in various tissues and contexts. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the link between epigenetics and PGC-1α in health and disease.