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Research progresses on PGC-1α, a key energy metabolic regulator 

WANG Hui-Ting, ZHANG Yan-Chen, XU Meng-Yi, ZHANG Wen-Xiang, LIU Chang, CHEN Si-Yu^*

College of Life Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China

Abstract

Disturbance of the energy balance, when the energy intake exceeds its expenditure, is a major risk factor for the development of metabolic syndrome (MS). The peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) functions as a key regulator of energy metabolism and has become a hotspot in current researches. PGC-1α sensitively responds to the environmental stimuli and nutrient signals, and further selectively binds to different transcription factors to regulate various physiological processes, including glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, and circadian clock. In this review, we described the gene and protein structure of PGC-1α, and reviewed its tissue-specific function in the regulation of energy homeostasis in various mammalian metabolic organs, including liver, skeletal muscle and heart, etc. At the meanwhile, we summarized the application of potential small molecule compounds targeting PGC-1α in the treatment of metabolic diseases. This review will provide theoretical basis and potential drug targets for the treatment of metabolic diseases.

Key words: peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α); energy metabolism; tissue specificity; molecular targets; drugs

Received: 2020-01-11　　Accepted: 2020-05-06

Corresponding author: 陈思禹　　E-mail: siyuchen@cpu.edu.cn

DOI: 10.13294/j.aps.2020.0046

Citing This Article：

WANG Hui-Ting, ZHANG Yan-Chen, XU Meng-Yi, ZHANG Wen-Xiang, LIU Chang, CHEN Si-Yu. Research progresses on PGC-1α, a key energy metabolic regulator . Acta Physiol Sin 2020; 72 (6): 804-816 (in Chinese with English abstract).