The role of mitochondrial biogenesis and ROS in the control of energy supply in proliferating cells

In yeast, there is a constant growth yield during proliferation on non-fermentable substrate where the ATP generated originates from oxidative phosphorylation. This constant growth yield is due to a tight adjustment between the growth rate and the cellular mitochondrial amount. We showed that this cellular mitochondrial amount is strictly controlled by mitochondrial biogenesis. Moreover, the Ras/cAMP pathway is the cellular signaling pathway involved in the regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis, with a direct relationship between the activity of this pathway and the cellular amount of mitochondria. The cAMP protein kinase Tpk3p is the catalytic subunit specifically involved in the regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis through regulation of the mitochondrial ROS production. An overflow of mitochondrial ROS decreases mitochondrial biogenesis through a decrease in the transcriptional co-activator Hap4p, which can be assimilated to mitochondria quality control. Moreover, the glutathione redox state is shown as being an intermediate in the regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: 18th European Bioenergetic Conference.