Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Master Transcription Regulators02:23

Master Transcription Regulators

Master transcription regulators are regulatory proteins that are predominantly responsible for regulating the expression of multiple genes. Often these genes work in concert to drive a  complex process. Activation of a master transcription regulator can lead to a cascade of transcriptional activation necessary for that outcome. These regulators can directly bind to the regulatory sequences of the various genes involved, or they can indirectly regulate transcription by binding to regulatory...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
Mitochondrial Precursor Proteins01:39

Mitochondrial Precursor Proteins

Mitochondrial precursors are partially unfolded or loosely folded polypeptide chains. Newly synthesized precursors are inhibited from spontaneously folding into their native conformation by the cytosolic chaperones, heat shock proteins 70 (Hsp70), and mitochondrial import stimulation factors (MSFs). Precursors bound to MSFs are guided to the TOM70-TOM37 receptors, while precursors bound to Hsp70  chaperones are targetted to TOM20-TOM22 receptor complexes.
Most of the mitochondrial precursors...
Mitochondria01:37

Mitochondria

Mitochondria are eukaryotic cellular organelles that are known to produce energy through a process called oxidative phosphorylation. Besides their primary function, mitochondria are involved in various cellular processes, including cell growth, differentiation, signaling, metabolism, and senescence. Age-related changes cause a decline in mitochondrial quality and integrity due to increased mitochondrial mutations and oxidative damage. Thus, aging can severely impact mitochondrial functions,...
Mitochondria01:37

Mitochondria

Mitochondria are eukaryotic cellular organelles that are known to produce energy through a process called oxidative phosphorylation. Besides their primary function, mitochondria are involved in various cellular processes, including cell growth, differentiation, signaling, metabolism, and senescence. Age-related changes cause a decline in mitochondrial quality and integrity due to increased mitochondrial mutations and oxidative damage. Thus, aging can severely impact mitochondrial functions,...
Mitochondrial Membranes01:45

Mitochondrial Membranes

A single mitochondrion is a bean-shaped organelle enclosed by a double-membrane system. The outer membrane of mitochondria is smooth and contains many porins - the integral membrane transporters. Porins enable free diffusion of ions and small uncharged molecules through the outer mitochondrial membrane but limit the transport of molecules larger than 5000 Daltons. Further, the outer mitochondrial membrane forms a unique structure called membrane contact sites with other subcellular organelles,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

An optimized "hypoxia in a pill" regimen reverses neurodegenerative disease phenotypes in multiple preclinical models.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Correction: MICU2, a Paralog of MICU1, Resides within the Mitochondrial Uniporter Complex to Regulate Calcium Handling.

PloS one·2026
Same author

Divergent evolution of the PRPS enzymes across the tree of life.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Mechanism of age-related accumulation of mtDNA mutations in human blood.

Nature·2026
Same author

Context-dependent synthetic lethality - an emerging precision therapeutic approach.

Nature reviews. Cancer·2026
Same author

4,5-dihydroxyhexanoic acid is a robust circulating and urine marker of mitochondrial disease and its severity.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Understanding the Changes in Mitochondrial Morphology through Dynamic and Three-dimensional Fluorescence Micrographs
08:15

Understanding the Changes in Mitochondrial Morphology through Dynamic and Three-dimensional Fluorescence Micrographs

Published on: August 15, 2025

mTOR controls mitochondrial oxidative function through a YY1-PGC-1alpha transcriptional complex.

John T Cunningham1, Joseph T Rodgers, Daniel H Arlow

  • 1Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.

Nature
|November 30, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is essential for mitochondrial oxidative function. mTOR regulates mitochondrial gene expression and oxygen consumption via the transcription factor YY1, impacting energy homeostasis.

More Related Videos

Ratiometric Biosensors that Measure Mitochondrial Redox State and ATP in Living Yeast Cells
12:22

Ratiometric Biosensors that Measure Mitochondrial Redox State and ATP in Living Yeast Cells

Published on: July 22, 2013

Mitochondrial Transformation in Baker's Yeast to Study Translation and Respiratory Complex Assembly
09:53

Mitochondrial Transformation in Baker's Yeast to Study Translation and Respiratory Complex Assembly

Published on: June 7, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Understanding the Changes in Mitochondrial Morphology through Dynamic and Three-dimensional Fluorescence Micrographs
08:15

Understanding the Changes in Mitochondrial Morphology through Dynamic and Three-dimensional Fluorescence Micrographs

Published on: August 15, 2025

Ratiometric Biosensors that Measure Mitochondrial Redox State and ATP in Living Yeast Cells
12:22

Ratiometric Biosensors that Measure Mitochondrial Redox State and ATP in Living Yeast Cells

Published on: July 22, 2013

Mitochondrial Transformation in Baker's Yeast to Study Translation and Respiratory Complex Assembly
09:53

Mitochondrial Transformation in Baker's Yeast to Study Translation and Respiratory Complex Assembly

Published on: June 7, 2024

Area of Science:

  • Cellular Metabolism
  • Mitochondrial Biology
  • Molecular Endocrinology

Background:

  • Peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor coactivator (PGC)-1alpha regulates mitochondrial oxidative function and energy homeostasis.
  • Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a key kinase in nutrient and energy pathways, controlling cell growth and survival.
  • The precise role of mTOR in regulating mitochondrial oxidative activity remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether and how mTOR controls mitochondrial oxidative activities.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms linking mTOR signaling to mitochondrial function.
  • To identify potential therapeutic targets for metabolic diseases and cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized mTOR inhibition with rapamycin in skeletal muscle tissues and cells.
  • Assessed gene expression of mitochondrial transcriptional regulators (PGC-1alpha, oestrogen-related receptor alpha, nuclear respiratory factors).
  • Employed computational genomics to identify transcription factor targets, followed by gene knockdown studies and protein-protein interaction assays.

Main Results:

  • mTOR inhibition decreased expression of PGC-1alpha, oestrogen-related receptor alpha, and nuclear respiratory factors, reducing mitochondrial gene expression and oxygen consumption.
  • Identified yin-yang 1 (YY1) as a common transcriptional target of mTOR and PGC-1alpha.
  • YY1 knockdown significantly decreased mitochondrial gene expression and respiration; YY1 was required for mTOR inhibition-induced gene repression. mTOR and raptor interacted with YY1, and mTOR inhibition disrupted YY1-PGC-1alpha interaction and coactivation.

Conclusions:

  • mTOR is crucial for maintaining mitochondrial oxidative function.
  • A novel mechanism reveals mTOR signaling regulates mitochondrial oxidative function through transcriptional control of YY1 and PGC-1alpha.
  • This pathway is vital for balancing energy metabolism and has implications for metabolic diseases and cancer.