Evidence of a bigenomic regulation of mitochondrial gene expression by thyroid hormone during rat brain development

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications 2010-07, Vol.397 (3), p.548-552
• Main Authors: Sinha, Rohit Anthony, Pathak, Amrita, Mohan, Vishwa, Babu, Satish, Pal, Amit, Khare, Drirh, Godbole, Madan M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; Animals; Bigenomic; Brain - growth & development; Brain - metabolism; Brain development; CEREBELLUM; Cerebellum - growth & development; Cerebellum - metabolism; Cyclooxygenase 1 - genetics; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Genes, Mitochondrial; HYPOTHYROIDISM; Hypothyroidism - genetics; Hypothyroidism - metabolism; MITOCHONDRIA; mTR; NF-E2-Related Factor 1 - metabolism; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases - genetics; RATS; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; RECEPTORS; RNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Thyroid hormone; THYROID HORMONES; Thyroid Hormones - metabolism; TRANSCRIPTION; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Transcription, Genetic
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2010.05.154

Hypothyroidism during early mammalian brain development is associated with decreased expression of various mitochondrial encoded genes along with evidence for mitochondrial dysfunction. However, in-spite of the similarities between neurological disorders caused by perinatal hypothyroidism and those caused by various genetic mitochondrial defects we still do not know as to how thyroid hormone (TH) regulates mitochondrial transcription during development and whether this regulation by TH is nuclear mediated or through mitochondrial TH receptors? We here in rat cerebellum show that hypothyroidism causes reduction in expression of nuclear encoded genes controlling mitochondrial biogenesis like PGC-1α, NRF-1α and Tfam. Also, we for the first time demonstrate a mitochondrial localization of thyroid hormone receptor (mTR) isoform in developing brain capable of binding a TH response element (DR2) present in D-loop region of mitochondrial DNA. These results thus indicate an integrated nuclear-mitochondrial cross talk in regulation of mitochondrial transcription by TH during brain development.