title: Contribution to the identification and analysis of the mitochondrial uncoupling proteins.
abstract: This review is primarily focused on the contribution of our laboratory to study of the mitochondrial uncoupling UCPs. The initial stage was the description of a 32-kDa membranous protein specifically induced in brown adipose tissue mitochondria of cold-adapted rats. This protein was then shown by others to be responsible for brown fat thermogenesis and was referred to as the uncoupling protein-UCP (recently renamed UCP1). cDNA and genomic clones of UCP1 were isolated and used to investigate the topology and functional organization of the protein in the membrane and the mechanisms of control of UCP1 gene transcription. Orientation of the transmembrane fragments was proposed and specific amino acid residues involved in the inhibition of UCP1 by purine nucleotides were identified in recombinant yeast. A potent enhancer mediating the response of the UCP1 gene to retinoids and controlling the specific transcription in brown adipocytes was identified using transgenic mice. More recently, we identified UCP2, an UCP homolog widely expressed in human and rodent tissues we also collaborated to characterize the plant UCP. Although the biochemical activities and physiological roles of the novel UCPs are not well understood, these recent data stimulate research on mitochondrial carriers, mitochondrial bioenergetics, and energy expenditure.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche sur l'Endocrinologie Moléculaire et le Développement, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique-Unit 9078, Meudon, France. ricquier@infobiogen.fr
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ricquier
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Miroux
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cassard-Doulcier
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lévi-Meyrueis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gelly
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raimbault
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bouillaud
mesh_terms: D002001:Adipose Tissue, Brown / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014475:Uncoupling Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1; D000071246:Uncoupling Protein 2
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D011506:Proteins; C000604371:UCP1 protein, human; C000604389:UCP2 protein, human; C000604372:Ucp1 protein, mouse; C000604373:Ucp1 protein, rat; C000604390:Ucp2 protein, mouse; C000604391:Ucp2 protein, rat; D014475:Uncoupling Agents; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1; D000071246:Uncoupling Protein 2