Figure 9.

Schematic diagram of the tight coupling between energy metabolism and neuronal activity co-regulated at the transcriptional level by the same transcription factor NRF-1 (nuclear respiratory factor 1). Recent studies (Dhar and Wong-Riley, 2009;¹⁴⁶ Dhar et al 2008,¹⁴⁵ 2009,¹⁴⁷ 2009¹⁴⁸) indicate that NRF-1 regulates the expression of not only all 13 subunit genes of cytochrome c oxidase (reflecting energy metabolism) but also genes of several neurochemicals associated with glutamatergic neurotransmission, including NMDA receptor subunits 1 and 2B (genes NR1 and NR2b), AMPA receptor subunit 2 (GluR2; gene Gria2), and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS, gene Nos1). This ensures high efficiency in matching energy production with energy demand of neuronal activity.