Orphan nuclear receptor estrogen-related receptor alpha is essential for adaptive thermogenesis.

ABSTRACT: Survival of organisms requires the ability to adapt to changes in the environment. Adaptation of oxidative metabolism is essential for meeting increased energy demands in response to stressors, such as exposure to cold temperatures or increased physical activity. Adaptive changes in metabolism are often achieved at the level of gene expression, and nuclear receptors have prevalent roles in mediating such responses. Estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERRalpha) was the first orphan nuclear receptor to be identified, and yet its physiologic function remains unknown. Here, we show that mice lacking ERRalpha are unable to maintain body temperature when exposed to cold. Surprisingly, the inability to adapt to cold is not due to defects in the acute transcriptional induction of genes important for

SUBMITTER: Villena JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1783094 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature