Uncoupling protein (UCP) 3 (UCP3) is a mitochondrial anion carrier protein with highly selective expression in skeletal muscle. Despite a great deal of interest, to date neither its molecular mechanism nor its biochemical and physiological functions are well understood. Based on its high degree of homology to the original UCP (UCP1), early studies examined a role for UCP3 in thermogenesis. Howe...

Insulin resistance is a major factor in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and is strongly associated with obesity. Increased concentrations of intracellular fatty acid metabolites have been postulated to interfere with insulin signaling by activation of a serine kinase cascade involving PKCtheta in skeletal muscle. Uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) has been postulated to dissipate the mitochondrial...

Uncoupling proteins 2 and 3 (UCP2 and UCP3) as mitochondrial electron transporters are involved in regulation of ATP production and energy dissipation as heat. Energy efficiency plays an important role in physical performance, especially in aerobic fitness. The aim of this study was to examine the association between maximal oxygen uptake and genetic variants of the UCP2 and UCP3 genes. The stu...

Uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) uncouples ATP production from mitochondrial respiration, thereby dissipating energy as heat and affecting the efficiency of energy metabolism. Genetic variations in the UCP3 gene have been conceived to affect body weight in the general population. In this study, using the quantitative transmission disequilibrium test (QTDT), we assessed linkage and association betwee...

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in the early pathogenesis of Type 2 Diabetes. The uncoupling proteins 2 and 3 are mitochondrial proteins found in man that have been implicated in protecting mammals from the effects of over-nutrition. Examination of the effect of genetic variation in the UCP2UCP3 genetic cluster has so far been inconclusive. The aim of this thesis was to examine, u...

Mitochondria use energy derived from fuel combustion to create a proton electrochemical gradient across the mitochondrial inner membrane. This intermediate form of energy is then used by ATP synthase to synthesize ATP. Uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1) is a brown fat-specific mitochondrial inner membrane protein with proton transport activity. UCP1 catalyzes a highly regulated proton leak, converting...

Objective: The mitochondrial uncoupling proteins (UCPs) are involved in body weight regulation and glucose homeostasis. Genetic variants in the UCP2-UCP3 gene cluster, located on chromosome 11q13, may play a significant role in the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Research Design And Methods: We conducted a comprehensive assessment of common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the 70...

Frier BC, Jacobs RL, Wright DC. Interactions between the consumption of a high-fat diet and fasting in the regulation of fatty acid oxidation enzyme gene expression: an evaluation of potential mechanisms. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 300: R212–R221, 2011. First published November 17, 2010; doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00367.2010.— The consumption of high-fat diets (HFDs) and fasting are known ...

Animal and plant uncoupling protein (UCP) homologues form a subfamily of mitochondrial carriers that are evolutionarily related and possibly derived from a proton/anion transporter ancestor. The brown adipose tissue (BAT) UCP1 has a marked and strongly regulated uncoupling activity, essential to the maintenance of body temperature in small mammals. UCP homologues identified in plants are induce...