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Mechanism

Mitochondrial biogenesis (PGC-1α)

Reference definition for a mitochondrial-biology node.

Turnover / growth pathway

Definition

Category: Turnover / growth pathway

Also known as: PGC-1alpha, biogenesis

Mitochondrial biogenesis is the making of new mitochondria, coordinated largely by the transcriptional coactivator PGC-1α together with NRF1/2 and TFAM. It is induced by exercise, caloric stress, and NAD+-dependent signalling, and balances mitophagy in the overall turnover of the mitochondrial network.

Key points

  • PGC-1α links biogenesis to NAD+/sirtuin signalling, which is why NAD+ precursors (NR, NMN) are discussed in a biogenesis context.
  • Exercise remains the most robust physiological inducer of biogenesis; supplement effects on human biogenesis are generally biomarker-level.
  • PQQ is marketed as a biogenesis cofactor, but the human evidence for that claim is thin (see the PQQ page).

Related interventions

Sourcing

Standard PGC-1α / biogenesis reviews. Review-level description.

Reference synthesis (tier 4); verification: review_level_2026-07-12.