This study shows that inhibiting the Lands cycle in skeletal muscle reduces lipid hydroperoxide levels, protecting against disuse-induced atrophy and weakness in mice.

bioRxiv · Jul 25, 2023Physiology

Weight loss improves skeletal muscle mitochondrial energy efficiency

P. J. Ferrara, M. J. Lang, J. M. Johnson, S. Watanabe, K. L. McLaughlin, J. A. Maschek, A. R. Verkerke, P. Siripoksup, A. Chaix, J. E. Cox, K. H. Fisher-Wellman, K. Funai

This study shows weight loss increases skeletal muscle mitochondrial energy efficiency by altering cardiolipin composition, which reduces energy expenditure and prevents weight regain.

bioRxiv · Dec 21, 2022 · PreprintPhysiology

Phosphatidylethanolamine facilitates mitochondrial pyruvate entry to regulate metabolic flexibility

P. Siripoksup, G. Cao, A. A. A. Cluntun, J. A. Maschek, Q. Pearce, M. J. Lang, H. Eshima, P. C. Opurum, Z. S. Mahmassani, E. B. Taylor, J. E. Cox, M. J. Drummond, J. Rutter, K. Funai

This study identifies phosphatidylethanolamine's role in regulating mitochondrial pyruvate entry, linking it to metabolic flexibility in skeletal muscle.

bioRxiv · Nov 1, 2022 · PreprintPhysiology

Mitochondrial Phosphatidylethanolamine Directly Regulates UCP1 to Promote Brown Adipose Thermogenesis

J. M. Johnson, A. D. Peterlin, E. Balderas, E. G. Sustarsic, J. A. Maschek, M. J. Lang, A. Jara-Ramos, V. Panic, J. T. Morgan, C. J. Villanueva, A. Sanchez, J. Rutter, I. J. Lodhi, J. E. Cox, K. H. Fisher-Wellman, , K. Funai

This study shows mitochondrial phosphatidylethanolamine directly regulates UCP1 to control thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue.

bioRxiv · Aug 26, 2022 · PreprintBiochemistry

m6A demethylase ALKBH5 promotes tumor cell proliferation by destabilizing IGF2BPs target genes and worsens the prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer

K. Tsuchiya, K. Yoshimura, Y. Iwashita, Y. Inoue, T. Ohta, H. Watanabe, H. Yamada, A. Kawase, M. Tanahashi, H. Ogawa, K. Funai, K. Shinmura, T. Suda, H. Sugimura

Cancer Gene Therapy · Mar 22, 2022Peer-reviewedCancer Biology

Lipid hydroperoxides promote sarcopenia through carbonyl stress

H. Eshima, J. L. Shahtout, P. Siripoksup, M. J. Pearson, Z. S. Mahmassani, P. J. Ferrara, A. W. Lyons, J. A. Maschek, A. D. Peterlin, A. R. P. Verkerke, J. M. Johnson, A. Salcedo, J. J. Petrocelli, E. R. Miranda, E. J. Anderson, , K. Funai

This study shows lipid hydroperoxides contribute to sarcopenia by causing carbonyl stress, and their neutralization prevents muscle atrophy and weakness.

bioRxiv · Dec 17, 2021Physiology

EFHD1 ablation reduces cardiac mitoflash activation and protects cardiomyocytes from ischemia.

D. R. Eberhardt, S. H. Lee, X. Yin, A. M. Balynas, E. Rekate, J. N. Kraiss, M. J. Lang, M. A. Walsh, M. E. Streiff, A. C. Corbin, K. Funai, F. B. Sachse, D. Chaudhuri

This study shows that EFHD1 deletion reduces mitochondrial Ca2+ overload and ROS production, protecting cardiomyocytes from ischemia-induced injury.

bioRxiv · Oct 18, 2021Cell Biology

Mitochondrial fatty acid synthesis coordinates mitochondrial oxidative metabolism

S. M. Nowinski, A. Solmonson, S. F. Rusin, J. A. Maschek, C. L. Bensard, S. Fogarty, M.-Y. Jeong, S. Lettlova, J. A. Berg, J. T. Morgan, Y. Ouyang, B. C. Naylor, J. A. Paulo, K. Funai, J. Cox, , J. Rutter

This study shows that mitochondrial fatty acid synthesis (mtFAS) regulates electron transport chain (ETC) complexes and skeletal myoblast differentiation, linking fatty acid synthesis to oxidative metabolism.

bioRxiv · May 9, 2020Biochemistry

The Lands cycle modulates plasma membrane lipid organization and insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle

P. J. Ferrara, X. Rong, J. A. Maschek, A. R. Verkerke, P. Siripoksup, H. Song, K. C. Krishnan, J. M. Johnson, J. Turk, J. A. Houmard, A. J. Lusis, J. E. Cox, S. R. Shaikh, P. Tontonoz, K. Funai

The study identifies LPCAT3 as a key regulator of plasma membrane lipid organization and insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle, showing its role in modulating lipid metabolism and insulin action.

bioRxiv · Dec 23, 2019 · PreprintPhysiology

Mitochondrial PE potentiates respiratory enzymes to amplify skeletal muscle aerobic capacity

T. D. Heden, J. M. Johnson, P. J. Ferrara, H. Eshima, A. R. Verkerke, E. J. Wentzler, P. Siripoksup, T. M. Narowski, C. B. Coleman, C.-T. Lin, T. E. Ryan, P. T. Reidy, L. E. de Castro Bras, C. M. Karner, C. F. Burant, , K. Funai

The paper shows that mitochondrial phospholipids, specifically phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), regulate respiratory capacity in skeletal muscle, with PE deficiency causing respiratory failure and oxidative stress.

bioRxiv · Apr 9, 2019Physiology

Reduced mitochondrial lipid oxidation leads to fat accumulation in myosteatosis

J. P. Gumucio, A. H. Qasawa, P. J. Ferrara, A. N. Malik, K. Funai, B. McDonagh, C. L. Mendias

This study identifies mitochondrial dysfunction and reduced fatty acid oxidation as causes of lipid accumulation in myosteatosis using a rat rotator cuff injury model.

bioRxiv · Nov 18, 2018Physiology