Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 7, 2026

Author Spotlight: Unveiling Oxidative Phosphorylation System Dynamics and Mitochondrial Roles in Health and Disease
Published on: May 3, 2024
Exercise induces sex-specific assembly of mitochondrial supercomplexes
Jesús R Huertas1, Jerónimo Aragón-Vela2, Andreas Breenfeldt Andersen3
1Department of Physiology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
Abstract:
The mitochondrial respiratory complexes of the electron transport chain (ETC) form supramolecular structures known as supercomplexes (SCs) whose functions remain partially understood. An increase in carbohydrate oxidation, such as that induced by high-intensity contractions within skeletal muscle (SKM), has been proposed to promote the assembly of high molecular weight SCs (HMWSCs). Here, healthy, active young subjects (7 females and 9 males) performed a moderate- followed by a high-intensity exercise bout. We found that males increased the assembly of complex III (CIII) into SCs, particularly HMWSCs, in an intensity-dependent manner within SKM. Females showed a stable content of both HMWSCs and I+III2 SCs during exercise. In contrast, the assembly of CIV into SCs was not promoted by exercise in either sex. These findings indicate that the ETC complex organization can be modulated by exercise, and the mitochondrial supercomplex assembly in human SKM appears to be regulated in a sex-specific manner.
More Related Videos
08:37Analyzing Supercomplexes of the Mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain with Native Electrophoresis, In-gel Assays, and Electroelution
Published on: June 1, 2017
11:25Hybrid Clear/Blue Native Electrophoresis for the Separation and Analysis of Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain Supercomplexes
Published on: May 19, 2019
Related Concept Videos
The Supercomplexes in the Crista Membrane
Mitochondrial Protein Sorting
Most of these mitochondrial proteins are encoded by the nucleus and imported to the mitochondria as unfolded or loosely folded precursors. Mitochondrial precursors...
Translocation of Proteins into the Mitochondria
Sorting of outer membrane proteins:
Mitochondrial outer membrane proteins are of two types: the transmembrane, beta-barrel porins, and the membrane-anchored, alpha-helical proteins. Beta-barrel porin precursors are translocated by the TOM complex and inserted into the outer mitochondrial membrane by the SAM complex. In contrast,...
Energy to Drive Translocation
Generally, polypeptides are unfolded by two distinct...
Porin Insertion in the Outer Mitochondrial Membrane
Three models describe the assembly of porins by the SAM complex and their insertion into the outer membrane. Model 1 suggests that porins are assembled outside the SAM channel as the...
Mitochondrial Membranes