RGD Reference Report - Mitochondrial transcription factor A is increased but expression of ATP synthase beta subunit and medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase genes are decreased in hearts of copper-deficient rats. - Rat Genome Database

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Mitochondrial transcription factor A is increased but expression of ATP synthase beta subunit and medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase genes are decreased in hearts of copper-deficient rats.

Authors: Mao, S  Leone, TC  Kelly, DP  Medeiros, DM 
Citation: Mao S, etal., J Nutr. 2000 Sep;130(9):2143-50.
RGD ID: 1598689
Pubmed: PMID:10958805   (View Abstract at PubMed)

The mechanism(s) by which impaired mitochondrial respiratory function and the accumulation of lipid droplets and mitochondria in hearts of copper-deficient rats occur remains unclear. It is not known whether specific components of the regulatory pathway involved in mitochondrial biogenesis, such as mitochondrial transcription factor A (mtTFA) and nuclear respiratory factors 1 and 2 (NRF-1 and NRF-2), are activated in copper deficiency. Little is known about gene expression of enzymes involved in fatty acid oxidation (FAO) in hearts of copper-deficient rats. Male weanling rats were fed copper-adequate (CuA), copper-deficient (CuD) or pair-fed (CuP) diets for 5 wk. Mitochondria and lipid droplet volume densities from electron micrographs were greater and there was an elevation in the mtTFA protein level in hearts of copper-deficient rats. DNA binding activities of NRF-1 and NRF-2 did not differ among the groups. Northern blot analysis of cardiac tissue revealed that transcripts of F(1)F(0)-ATP synthase subunit c were greater, but mRNA levels of ATP synthase beta subunit and the FAO enzyme, medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD), were lower in hearts of copper-deficient rats. Long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCAD) mRNA levels did not differ among treatment groups. These results suggest that certain components of the mitochondrial biogenesis program are activated in hearts of copper-deficient rats. F(1)F(0)-ATP synthase beta subunit and MCAD transcript levels remain low, which may contribute to impaired mitochondrial respiratory function, decreased fatty acid utilization and lipid droplet accumulation in hearts of copper-deficient rats.

Gene Ontology Annotations    Click to see Annotation Detail View

Biological Process
TermQualifierEvidenceWithReferenceNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
response to copper ion  IEP 1598689 RGD 

Objects Annotated

Genes (Rattus norvegicus)
Acadm  (acyl-CoA dehydrogenase medium chain)


Additional Information