Native uncoupling protein 1 (UCP 1) was purified from rat mitochondria by hydroxyapatite chromatography and identified by peptide mass mapping and tandem mass spectrometry. Native and expressed UCP 1 were reconstituted into liposomes, and proton flux through UCP 1 was shown to be fatty acid-dependent and GDP-sensitive. To investigate the mechanism of action of UCP 1, we determined whether hydro...

Conformations of the prototypic UCP-1 (uncoupling protein-1) and its TM (transmembrane) and ML (matrix-loop) domains were studied by CD spectroscopy. Recombinant, untagged mouse UCP-1 and a hexahistidine-tagged version of the protein were obtained in high purity following their overexpression in Escherichia coli. The TM and ML domains of hamster UCP-1 were chemically synthesized. Conformations ...

To study the effect of the mitogens epidermal growth factor (EGF), acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors (aFGF and bFGF), and vasopressin on brown adipocyte differentiation, we analyzed the expression of uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1) mRNA. Quiescent brown preadipocytes express high levels of UCP-1 mRNA in response to triiodothyronine (T3) and norepinephrine (NE). The addition of serum or th...

The aim of this review is to provide an overview of current knowledge on the three mammalian uncoupling proteins, UCP-1, UCP-2, and UCP-3. Heart Metab. 2010;48:32–34.

To investigate the role of type II 5'-deiodinase (5'D-II) in the expression of mitochondrial uncoupling protein (UCP) in brown adipose tissue (BAT), we injected intact male rats with reverse (r) 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3; 100 μg ⋅ 100 g body wt-1 ⋅ day-1), an inhibitor of 5'D-II, for 2-5 days. UCP decreased by ∼20% in rats kept at 28°C and failed to increase during cold exposure (4°C). Next, ...

Uncoupling protein (UCP)-1 expressed in brown adipose tissue plays an important role in thermogenesis. Recent data suggest that brown-like adipocytes in white adipose tissue (WAT) and skeletal muscle play a crucial role in the regulation of body weight. Understanding of the mechanism underlying the increase in UCP-1 expression level in these organs should, therefore, provide an approach to mana...

ABSTRACT High altitude environments challenge small mammals with persistent low ambient temperatures that require high rates of aerobic heat production in face O2 availability. An important component thermogenic capacity rodents is non-shivering thermogenesis (NST) mediated by uncoupled mitochondrial respiration brown adipose tissue (BAT). NST plastic, and for increases cold acclimation. Howeve...