Cytochrome c Oxidase on the Crossroads of Transcriptional Regulation and Bioenergetics.

Ivan Vladimirovich Chicherin,Piotr Kamenski,Igor Krasheninnikov,Sergey Levitskii,Mariia Baleva,Erdem Dashinimaev

doi:10.3389/fphys.2019.00644

Abstract

Mitochondria are the organelles of eukaryotic cells responsible for the ATP production by means of the electron transfer chain (ETC). Its work is under strict genetic control providing the correct assembly of the enzyme complexes and the interface to adapt the energetic demands of the cell to the environment. These mechanisms are particularly developed in the cells with high energy consumption, like neurons and myocytes. This review summarizes several aspects of the involvement of the ETC complexes in the transcriptional control mechanisms of the neurons and other cells. Their influence on the differentiation of neurons is also discussed.

Highlights

Mitochondria are essential organelles of eukaryotic cells
The transition to the permanent organelles caused profound evolutionary changes (Roger et al, 2017). One of their main functions is the aerobic respiration, a complex process of pyruvate oxidation producing reducing equivalents further oxidized in the electron transfer chain (ETC) and production of ATP
It consists of four enzyme complexes (I-IV) which catalyze electron transfer from NADH and FADH2 to molecular oxygen and pump the H+ ions in the intermembrane space generating the chemiosmotic gradient across the membrane which is dissipated by the ATP synthase producing ATP

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Mitochondria are essential organelles of eukaryotic cells. According to the currently accepted theory, they originated from the endosymbiosis of alphaproteobacteria with an ancient host cell (Roger et al, 2017). The transition to the permanent organelles caused profound evolutionary changes (Roger et al, 2017) One of their main functions is the aerobic respiration, a complex process of pyruvate oxidation producing reducing equivalents further oxidized in the electron transfer chain (ETC) and production of ATP. This is why mitochondria are often assigned as the “powerhouses” of the cell. The respiratory function of mitochondria is provided by the ETC resides in the inner mitochondrial membrane It consists of four enzyme complexes (I-IV) which catalyze electron transfer from NADH and FADH2 to molecular oxygen and pump the H+ ions in the intermembrane space generating the chemiosmotic gradient across the membrane which is dissipated by the ATP synthase (often assigned as complex V) producing ATP. The data available for neurons demonstrates that mitochondria are responsible for the differentiation and identity of the cell, which does not challenge the existing paradigm, but completes it

COX IS INVOLVED IN THE REGULATION OF THE ETC

COX GENES ARE INVOLVED IN TRANSCRIPTIONAL NETWORKS IN NEURONS

CONCLUDING REMARKS AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES