Alteration of mitochondrial function in adult rat offspring of malnourished dams

Figure 1 Mitochondrial gene expression and biogenesis. Environmental factors induce PKA and p38 MAPK pathways. PKA phosphorylates CREB transcription factor, which is involved in the induction of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator (PGC)-1α gene expression. Activation of p38 MAPK phosphorylates PGC-1α protein, resulting in its stabilization and activation. PGC-1α activates the expression of the subunits of mitochondrial electron transport chain and Tfam, one of the major regulatory factors for mitochondrial transcription and replication, through the co-activation of nuclear respiratory factor 1-mediated transcription. Tfam subsequently translocates in the mitochondrion and directly increases the transcription and replication of mitochondrial DNA (Adapted from Remacle et al[45], 2007).