Mitochondrial coupling and capacity of oxidative phosphorylation in skeletal muscle of Inuit and Caucasians in the arctic winter

TY - JOUR

T1 - Mitochondrial coupling and capacity of oxidative phosphorylation in skeletal muscle of Inuit and Caucasians in the arctic winter

AU - Gnaiger, E

AU - Boushel, R

AU - Søndergaard, H

AU - Munch-Andersen, T

AU - Damsgaard, R

AU - Hagen, C

AU - Díez-Sánchez, C

AU - Ara, I

AU - Wright-Paradis, C

AU - Schrauwen, P

AU - Hesselink, M

AU - Calbet, J A L

AU - Christiansen, M

AU - Helge, J W

AU - Saltin, B

N1 - © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PY - 2015/12/1

Y1 - 2015/12/1

N2 - During evolution, mitochondrial DNA haplogroups of arctic populations may have been selected for lower coupling of mitochondrial respiration to ATP production in favor of higher heat production. We show that mitochondrial coupling in skeletal muscle of traditional and westernized Inuit habituating northern Greenland is identical to Danes of western Europe haplogroups. Biochemical coupling efficiency was preserved across variations in diet, muscle fiber type, and uncoupling protein-3 content. Mitochondrial phenotype displayed plasticity in relation to lifestyle and environment. Untrained Inuit and Danes had identical capacities to oxidize fat substrate in arm muscle, which increased in Danes during the 42 days of acclimation to exercise, approaching the higher level of the Inuit hunters. A common pattern emerges of mitochondrial acclimatization and evolutionary adaptation in humans at high latitude and high altitude where economy of locomotion may be optimized by preservation of biochemical coupling efficiency at modest mitochondrial density, when submaximum performance is uncoupled from VO2max and maximum capacities of oxidative phosphorylation.

AB - During evolution, mitochondrial DNA haplogroups of arctic populations may have been selected for lower coupling of mitochondrial respiration to ATP production in favor of higher heat production. We show that mitochondrial coupling in skeletal muscle of traditional and westernized Inuit habituating northern Greenland is identical to Danes of western Europe haplogroups. Biochemical coupling efficiency was preserved across variations in diet, muscle fiber type, and uncoupling protein-3 content. Mitochondrial phenotype displayed plasticity in relation to lifestyle and environment. Untrained Inuit and Danes had identical capacities to oxidize fat substrate in arm muscle, which increased in Danes during the 42 days of acclimation to exercise, approaching the higher level of the Inuit hunters. A common pattern emerges of mitochondrial acclimatization and evolutionary adaptation in humans at high latitude and high altitude where economy of locomotion may be optimized by preservation of biochemical coupling efficiency at modest mitochondrial density, when submaximum performance is uncoupled from VO2max and maximum capacities of oxidative phosphorylation.

KW - Adenosine Triphosphate

KW - Adult

KW - Cell Respiration

KW - Cold Temperature

KW - DNA, Mitochondrial

KW - Deltoid Muscle

KW - Denmark

KW - European Continental Ancestry Group

KW - Fatty Acids

KW - Female

KW - Greenland

KW - Haplotypes

KW - Humans

KW - Inuits

KW - Ion Channels

KW - Male

KW - Mitochondria, Muscle

KW - Mitochondrial Proteins

KW - Oxidation-Reduction

KW - Oxidative Phosphorylation

KW - Oxygen Consumption

KW - Quadriceps Muscle

KW - Seasons

KW - Skiing

KW - Thermogenesis

KW - Uncoupling Protein 3

KW - Journal Article

KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

U2 - 10.1111/sms.12612

DO - 10.1111/sms.12612

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 26589126

SN - 0905-7188

VL - 25

SP - 126

EP - 134

JO - Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports

JF - Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports

IS - Suppl 4

ER -