ABSTRACT
Given the importance of mitochondrial biogenesis to endurance exercise, the aim of this chapter is to evaluate the potential for variants in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), nuclear genes encoding mitochondrial proteins (NuGEMPs), or nuclear genes that control mitochondrial biogenesis to influence mitochondrial function/adaptations. It has long been known that increased mitochondrial mass and function are associated with endurance exercise training (33, 35). It is not surprising that maximal oxygen consumption at the whole body level (VO2max) increases co-temporal with total mitochondrial mass (12, 53), and mitochondrial cristae density (64), given that complex IV of the mitochondrial respiratory chain is the terminal oxygen acceptor for cellular metabolism.
