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Mitochondrial fission: firing up mitochondria in brown adipose tissue
Author(s) -
Gao Arwen W,
Houtkooper Riekelt H
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1002/embj.201487798
Subject(s) - biology , brown adipose tissue , mitochondrion , mitochondrial dna , adipose tissue , mitochondrial fission , oxidative phosphorylation , energy metabolism , genetics , gene , biochemistry , endocrinology
Brown adipose tissue ( BAT ) is an important site for energy expenditure, for instance to generate heat in times of cold exposure. BAT expansion and activation can increase energy dissipation of an organism. This involves the coordinated activation of mitochondrial metabolism and heat generation through uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation. In this issue of The EMBO Journal , the Shirihai group uncovers a novel potentiation pathway for BAT energy expenditure. Changes in mitochondrial dynamics, in particular mitochondrial fission, act in synergy with fatty acid‐induced uncoupling to activate BAT metabolism in response to the hormone norepinephrine.