A 45 kDa protein related to PPARγ2, induced by peroxisome proliferators, is located in the mitochondrial matrix

• Published in: FEBS letters 2000-07, Vol.478 (1), p.4-8
• Main Authors: Casas, François, Domenjoud, Lionel, Rochard, Pierrick, Hatier, Renée, Rodier, Anne, Daury, Laetitia, Bianchi, Arnaud, Kremarik-Bouillaud, Pascaline, Becuwe, Philippe, Keller, Jean-Marie, Schohn, Hervé, Wrutniak-Cabello, Chantal, Cabello, Gérard, Dauça, Michel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Mitochondrion; Peroxisome proliferator; Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor; Triiodothyronine
• ISSN: 0014-5793; 1873-3468
• DOI: 10.1016/S0014-5793(00)01814-7

Besides their involvement in the control of nuclear gene expression by activating several peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), peroxisome proliferators influence mitochondrial activity. By analogy with the previous characterization of a mitochondrial T3 receptor (p43), we searched for the presence of a peroxisome proliferator target in the organelle. Using several antisera raised against different domains of PPARs, we demonstrated by Western blotting, immunoprecipitation and electron microscopy experiments, that a 45 kDa protein related to PPARγ2 (mt-PPAR) is located in the matrix of rat liver mitochondria. In addition, we found that the amounts of mt-PPAR are increased by clofibrate treatment. Moreover, in EMSA experiments mt-PPAR bound to a DR2 sequence located in the mitochondrial D-loop, by forming a complex with p43. Last, studies of tissue-specific expression indicated that mt-PPAR is detected in mitochondria of all tissues tested except the brain in amounts positively related to p43 abundance.