Mitochondrial TNAP controls thermogenesis by hydrolysis of phosphocreatine

Yizhi Sun, Janane F. Rahbani, Mark P. Jedrychowski, Christopher L. Riley, Sara Vidoni, Dina Bogoslavski, Bo Hu, Phillip A. Dumesic, Xing Zeng, Alex B. Wang, Nelson H. Knudsen, Caroline R. Kim, Anthony Marasciullo, José L. Millán, Edward T. Chouchani, Lawrence Kazak and Bruce M. Spiegelman ()
Additional contact information
Yizhi Sun: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Janane F. Rahbani: McGill University
Mark P. Jedrychowski: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Christopher L. Riley: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Sara Vidoni: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dina Bogoslavski: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Bo Hu: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Phillip A. Dumesic: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Xing Zeng: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Alex B. Wang: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Nelson H. Knudsen: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Caroline R. Kim: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Anthony Marasciullo: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
José L. Millán: Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
Edward T. Chouchani: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Lawrence Kazak: McGill University
Bruce M. Spiegelman: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Nature, 2021, vol. 593, issue 7860, 580-585

Abstract: Abstract Adaptive thermogenesis has attracted much attention because of its ability to increase systemic energy expenditure and to counter obesity and diabetes1–3. Recent data have indicated that thermogenic fat cells use creatine to stimulate futile substrate cycling, dissipating chemical energy as heat4,5. This model was based on the super-stoichiometric relationship between the amount of creatine added to mitochondria and the quantity of oxygen consumed. Here we provide direct evidence for the molecular basis of this futile creatine cycling activity in mice. Thermogenic fat cells have robust phosphocreatine phosphatase activity, which is attributed to tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP). TNAP hydrolyses phosphocreatine to initiate a futile cycle of creatine dephosphorylation and phosphorylation. Unlike in other cells, TNAP in thermogenic fat cells is localized to the mitochondria, where futile creatine cycling occurs. TNAP expression is powerfully induced when mice are exposed to cold conditions, and its inhibition in isolated mitochondria leads to a loss of futile creatine cycling. In addition, genetic ablation of TNAP in adipocytes reduces whole-body energy expenditure and leads to rapid-onset obesity in mice, with no change in movement or feeding behaviour. These data illustrate the critical role of TNAP as a phosphocreatine phosphatase in the futile creatine cycle.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03533-z

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