Nuclear respiratory factor 1, also known as Nrf1, Nrf-1, NRF1 and NRF-1, encodes a protein that homodimerizes and functions as a transcription factor which activates the expression of some key metabolic genes regulating cellular growth and nuclear genes required for respiration, heme biosynthesis, and mitochondrial DNA transcription and replication. The protein has also been associated with the regulation of neurite outgrowth. Alternate transcriptional splice variants, which encode the same protein, have been characterized. Additional variants encoding different protein isoforms have been described but they have not been fully characterized. Confusion has occurred in bibliographic databases due to the shared symbol of NRF1 for this gene and for "nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 1" which has an official symbol of NFE2L1.[ citation needed ]
Nrf1 functions as a transcription factor that activates the expression of some key metabolic genes regulating cellular growth and nuclear genes required for mitochondrial respiration, and mitochondrial DNA transcription and replication. Nrf1, together with Nrf2, mediates the biogenomic coordination between nuclear and mitochondrial genomes by directly regulating the expression of several nuclear-encoded ETC proteins, and indirectly regulating the three mitochondrial-encoded COX subunit genes by activating mtTFA, mtTFB1, and mtTFB2.
Nrf1 is associated with the regulation of neurite outgrowth. [5]
Alternate transcriptional splice variants, which encode the same protein, have been characterized. Additional variants encoding different protein isoforms have been described but they have not been fully characterized. [6]
Cyclin D1-dependent kinase, through phosphorylating NRF-1 at S47, coordinates nuclear DNA synthesis and mitochondrial function. [7]
NRF1 has been shown to interact with DYNLL1, [8] PPARGC1A, [9] and PPRC1. [10]
The nuclear receptor coactivator 2 also known as NCoA-2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the NCOA2 gene. NCoA-2 is also frequently called glucocorticoid receptor-interacting protein 1 (GRIP1), steroid receptor coactivator-2 (SRC-2), or transcriptional mediators/intermediary factor 2 (TIF2).
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PPARGC1A gene. PPARGC1A is also known as human accelerated region 20 (HAR20). It may, therefore, have played a key role in differentiating humans from apes.
Cyclic AMP-dependent transcription factor ATF-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ATF1 gene.
GA-binding protein alpha chain is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GABPA gene.
COUP-TFII, also known as NR2F2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the NR2F2 gene. The COUP acronym stands for chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter.
DNA damage-binding protein 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the DDB1 gene.
Nuclear inhibitor of protein phosphatase 1 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the PPP1R8 gene.
Nuclear receptor coactivator 6 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the NCOA6 gene.
Tripartite motif-containing 24 (TRIM24) also known as transcriptional intermediary factor 1α (TIF1α) is a protein that, in humans, is encoded by the TRIM24 gene.
Mediator of RNA polymerase II transcription subunit 21 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the MED21 gene.
Nuclear transcription factor Y subunit gamma is a protein that in humans is encoded by the NFYC gene.
GA-binding protein subunit beta-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GABPB1 gene.
Mediator of RNA polymerase II transcription subunit 17 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the MED17 gene.
Cbp/p300-interacting transactivator 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CITED1 gene.
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-related protein 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PPRC1 gene.
Dimethyladenosine transferase 2; transcription factor B2, mitochondrial is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the TFB2M gene.
Biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex 1 subunit 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the BLOC1S1 gene.
Mitochondrial biogenesis is the process by which cells increase mitochondrial numbers. It was first described by John Holloszy in the 1960s, when it was discovered that physical endurance training induced higher mitochondrial content levels, leading to greater glucose uptake by muscles. Mitochondrial biogenesis is activated by numerous different signals during times of cellular stress or in response to environmental stimuli, such as aerobic exercise.
Small Maf proteins are basic region leucine zipper-type transcription factors that can bind to DNA and regulate gene regulation. There are three small Maf (sMaf) proteins, namely MafF, MafG, and MafK, in vertebrates. HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)-approved gene names of MAFF, MAFG and MAFK are “v-maf avian musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog F, G, and K”, respectively.
PPARG coactivator 1 alpha is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PPARGC1A gene.
This article incorporates text from the United States National Library of Medicine, which is in the public domain.