The brown and brite adipocyte marker Cox7a1 is not required for non-shivering thermogenesis in mice.

ABSTRACT: The cytochrome c oxidase subunit isoform Cox7a1 is highly abundant in skeletal muscle and heart and influences enzyme activity in these tissues characterised by high oxidative capacity. We identified Cox7a1, well-known as brown adipocyte marker gene, as a cold-responsive protein of brown adipose tissue. We hypothesised a mechanistic relationship between cytochrome c oxidase activity and Cox7a1 protein levels affecting the oxidative capacity of brown adipose tissue and thus non-shivering thermogenesis. We subjected wildtype and Cox7a1 knockout mice to different temperature regimens and tested characteristics of brown adipose tissue activation. Cytochrome c oxidase activity, uncoupling protein 1 expression and maximal norepinephrine-induced heat production were gradually increased during col

SUBMITTER: Maurer SF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4669493 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature