Acute treadmill exercise induces mitochondrial unfolded protein response in skeletal muscle of male rats.

Mitochondria are often referred to as the energy centers of the cell and are recognized as key players in signal transduction, sensing, and responding to internal and external stimuli. Under stress conditions, the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR), a conserved mitochondrial quality control mechanism, is activated to maintain mitochondrial and cellular homeostasis. As a physiological stimulus, exercise-induced mitochondrial perturbations trigger UPR, coordinating mitochondria-to-nucleus communication and initiating a transcriptional program to restore mitochondrial function.