mTOR controls mitochondrial oxidative function through a YY1-PGC-1alpha transcriptional complex

Cunningham JT, Rodgers JT, Arlow DH, Vazquez F, Mootha VK, Puigserver P · 2007 · Nature · Atlas ID CUN2007

What this study shows

Showed mTOR isn't just about building proteins - it also runs the cell's POWER plants. mTORC1 drives mitochondrial gene expression and oxygen consumption through a YY1-PGC-1alpha transcriptional program; block mTOR with rapamycin and mitochondrial output falls. Explains part of why mTOR inhibition reshapes metabolism.

Abstract

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Transcriptional complexes that contain peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor coactivator (PGC)-1alpha control mitochondrial oxidative function to maintain energy homeostasis in response to nutrient and hormonal signals. An important component in the energy and nutrient pathways is mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a kinase that regulates cell growth, size and survival. However, it is unknown whether and how mTOR controls mitochondrial oxidative activities. Here we show that mTOR is necessary for the maintenance of mitochondrial oxidative function.

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At a glance

Evidence type	M Molecular — cells, biochemistry, structure Marked M because it is molecular or in-vitro work (model: Skeletal muscle cells + tissue) rather than a whole-organism health-outcome study. That is often exactly where causal biology gets established -- the code says which system the finding was shown in, and nothing about how good the work is.
Study type	5 - Mechanistic / In Vitro
Model system	Skeletal muscle cells + tissue
Journal	Nature
Year	2007
Peer reviewed	Yes
Record last updated	2026-08-22
Source	DOI 10.1038/nature06322 · PMID 18046414

Extracted findings

Intervention	Genetic/pharmacologic (mTOR; rapamycin)
Target	mTOR / YY1 / PGC-1α
Model	Skeletal muscle cells + tissue
Effect	mTOR controls mitochondrial oxidative function through a YY1-PGC-1α transcriptional complex

In the Atlas

Cite this paper

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Cunningham, J. T., Rodgers, J. T., Arlow, D. H., Vazquez, F., Mootha, V. K., & Puigserver, P. (2007). mTOR controls mitochondrial oxidative function through a YY1-PGC-1alpha transcriptional complex. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature06322

@article{CUN2007,
  author       = {Cunningham, J. T. and Rodgers, J. T. and Arlow, D. H. and Vazquez, F. and Mootha, V. K. and Puigserver, P.},
  title        = {{mTOR controls mitochondrial oxidative function through a YY1-PGC-1alpha transcriptional complex}},
  journal      = {Nature},
  year         = {2007},
  doi          = {10.1038/nature06322},
  note         = {PMID: 18046414},
}

Cite this Atlas record

The record is the Atlas's own work — the evidence label, the extracted findings and the links. It is cited as part of the dataset, not as the paper.

Barton, O. (2026). Oliver's mTOR Atlas (record CUN2007) [Data set]. https://mtor-atlas.org/study/CUN2007/ · Dataset DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22059963

@misc{atlas_CUN2007,
  author       = {Barton, Oliver},
  title        = {{Oliver's mTOR Atlas}, record CUN2007},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://mtor-atlas.org/study/CUN2007/},
  doi          = {10.5281/zenodo.22059963}
}