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The Extract of Ginkgo biloba EGb 761 Reactivates a Juvenile Profile in the Skeletal Muscle of Sarcopenic Rats by Transcriptional Reprogramming

Figure 6

Schematic representation of the interactions between the genes regulated by EGb 761 associated with regulation of energy metabolism in mitochondria in the soleus muscle of aged rats.

Regulated genes are included in frames. indicates up-regulation of gene expression by EGb 761. indicates down-regulation of gene expression by EGb 761. → = activation. ---- = inhibition. FA (Free Fatty Acids) are taken up by the fatty acid transporter protein Cd36 and activated to fatty acyl-coenzyme A (FA-CoA). FA-CoA oxidation would increase the ratios of acetyl-CoA/CoA and of NADH/NAD+, which inhibit the pyruvate dehydogenase (PDH) complex by activating the pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (Pdk4). Increase FA oxidation products as citrate should further inhibit phosphofructokinase (Pfk) and hexokinase. These changes would slow down oxidation of glucose and pyruvate and glycogen stock is maintained. In the same time, fatty acid synthase (Fasn) and mitochondrial 3-oxoacyl-Coenzyme A thiolase (Acaa2) are inhibited resulting in the lipid synthesis inhibition and a preferential use of these lipids for ATP synthesis.

doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0007998.g006