Exercise-induced mitochondrial biogenesis coincides with the expression of mitochondrial translation factors in murine skeletal muscle

Abstract

The process of mitochondrial translation, in which mitochondrial (mt)DNA‐encoded genes are translated into proteins, is crucial for mitochondrial function and biogenesis. In each phase, a series of mitochondrial translation factors is required for the synthesis of mtDNA‐encoded mitochondrial proteins. Two mitochondrial initiation factors (mtIF2 and mtIF3), three mitochondrial elongation factors (mtEFTu, mtEFTs, and mtEFG1), one mitochondrial release factor (mtRF1L), and two mitochondrial recycling factors (mtRRF1 and mtRRF2) are mitochondrial translation factors that coordinate each translational phase. Exercise increases both nuclear DNA‐ and mtDNA‐encoded mitochondrial proteins, resulting in mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscles. Therefore, mitochondrial translation factors are likely regulated by exercise; however, it is unclear whether exercise affects mitochondrial translation factors in the skeletal muscles. We investigated whether exercise training comprehensively increases this series of mitochondrial translation factors, as well as mtDNA‐encoded proteins, in the skeletal muscle. Mice were randomly assigned to either the sedentary or exercise group and housed in standard cages with or without a running wheel for 1 and 8 weeks. The expression levels of mitochondrial translation factors in the plantaris and soleus muscles were then measured. Exercise training concomitantly upregulated mitochondrial translation factors and mitochondrial proteins in the plantaris muscle. However, in the soleus muscle, these comprehensive upregulations were not detected. These results indicate that exercise‐induced mitochondrial biogenesis coincides with the upregulation of mitochondrial translation factors.