Mitophagy controls beige adipocyte maintenance through a Parkin-dependent and UCP1-independent mechanism

Sci Signal. 2018 Apr 24;11(527):eaap8526. doi: 10.1126/scisignal.aap8526.

Abstract

Beige adipocytes are an inducible form of mitochondria-enriched thermogenic adipocytes that emerge in response to external stimuli, such as chronic cold exposure. We have previously shown that after the withdrawal of external stimuli, beige adipocytes directly acquire a white fat-like phenotype through autophagy-mediated mitochondrial degradation. We investigated the upstream pathway that mediates mitochondrial clearance and report that Parkin-mediated mitophagy plays a key role in the beige-to-white adipocyte transition. Mice genetically deficient in Park2 showed reduced mitochondrial degradation and retained thermogenic beige adipocytes even after the withdrawal of external stimuli. Norepinephrine signaling through the PKA pathway inhibited the recruitment of Parkin protein to mitochondria in beige adipocytes. However, mitochondrial proton uncoupling by uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) was dispensable for Parkin recruitment and beige adipocyte maintenance. These results suggest a physiological mechanism by which external cues control mitochondrial homeostasis in thermogenic fat cells through mitophagy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipocytes, Beige / cytology
  • Adipocytes, Beige / metabolism*
  • Adipose Tissue, White / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mitophagy / genetics*
  • RNA Interference
  • Signal Transduction / genetics*
  • Thermogenesis / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / deficiency
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / genetics*
  • Uncoupling Protein 1 / deficiency
  • Uncoupling Protein 1 / genetics*

Substances

  • Uncoupling Protein 1
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • parkin protein