The protease Omi regulates mitochondrial biogenesis through the GSK3β/PGC-1α pathway.

ABSTRACT: Loss of the mitochondrial protease activity of Omi causes mitochondrial dysfunction, neurodegeneration with parkinsonian features and premature death in mnd2 (motor neuron degeneration 2) mice. However, the detailed mechanisms underlying this pathology remain largely unknown. Here, we report that Omi participates in the process of mitochondrial biogenesis, which has been linked to several neurodegenerative diseases. The mitochondrial biogenesis is deficit in mnd2 mice, evidenced by severe decreases of mitochondrial components, mitochondrial DNA and mitochondrial density. Omi cleaves glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β), a kinase promoting PPARγ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) degradation, to regulate PGC-1α, a factor important for the mitochondrial biogenesis. In mnd2 mice, GSK3β abundance is incre

SUBMITTER: Xu R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4454303 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature