Gene Regulation
Creating different flavours of a single gene
PGC-1α proteins can change cellular functions by changing the expression (transcription) of different genes. There are several PGC-1α proteins, which affect different sets of genes. Here we found that the different PGC-1α proteins can also change how genes are read (transcribed) so the same genetic information can give rise to different cellular messengers (mRNAs) and effectors (proteins). This process is called alternative splicing
How a single gene can do everything (almost).
In this article we aim for a comprehensive review of many gene variants of PGC-1a gene that have been discovered by our and other groups. We have learned that they give PGC-1 an ability to adapt its functionality to specific tissues and stimuli.
Genes as orchestrators of exercise benefits
When exercising, our muscles take the brunt of the effort. In order to cope with increased demands, molecular pathways orchestrated by PGC-1 gene are activated. The changes however don't stop there, so we decided to have a closer look on how exercised muscle affects the rest of the body.