Declining NAD(+) induces a pseudohypoxic state disrupting nuclear-mitochondrial communication during aging

Anna P Gomes, Nathan L Price, Alvin J Y Ling, Javid J Moslehi, Magdalene K Montgomery, Luis Rajman, James P White, Joao S Teodoro, Christiane D Wrann, Basil P Hubbard, Evi M Mercken, Carlos M Palmeira, Rafael de Cabo, Anabela P Rolo, Nigel Turner, Eric L Bell, David A Sinclair

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

1113 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Ever since eukaryotes subsumed the bacterial ancestor of mitochondria, the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes have had to closely coordinate their activities, as each encode different subunits of the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark of aging, but its causes are debated. We show that, during aging, there is a specific loss of mitochondrial, but not nuclear, encoded OXPHOS subunits. We trace the cause to an alternate PGC-1alpha/beta-independent pathway of nuclear-mitochondrial communication that is induced by a decline in nuclear NAD(+) and the accumulation of HIF-1alpha under normoxic conditions, with parallels to Warburg reprogramming. Deleting SIRT1 accelerates this process, whereas raising NAD(+) levels in old mice restores mitochondrial function to that of a young mouse in a SIRT1-dependent manner. Thus, a pseudohypoxic state that disrupts PGC-1alpha/beta-independent nuclear-mitochondrial communication contributes to the decline in mitochondrial function with age, a process that is apparently reversible.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1624 - 1638
Number of pages15
JournalCell
Volume155
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes

Cite this