title: Molecular identification of uncoupling proteins 2 and 3 in a carnivorous marsupial, the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii).
abstract: This study investigated the expression of uncoupling proteins 2 and 3 (UCP2 and UCP3) in the carnivorous marsupial Sarcophilus harrisii. The current study used molecular techniques to ascertain whether this species expresses UCP2 and/or UCP3. This species increases nonshivering thermogenesis in response to cold exposure and norepinephrine, although our previous study was unable to demonstrate the presence of brown adipose tissue or uncoupling protein 1. Samples of skeletal muscle and white adipose tissues were taken from five S. harrisii pre- and post-cold acclimation (2 degrees -3 degrees C for 2 wk). The tissues were examined for UCP2 and UCP3 expression through Western blots and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, with subsequent sequencing to ensure identification of the desired gene. These data suggest that S. harrisii expresses UCP2 but not UCP3. The sequencing of the amplified S. harrisii UCP2 cDNA has revealed a 76% homology with human UCP2 cDNA and a 72% homology with rat UCP2 cDNA. The expression of UCP2 but not UCP3 suggests that UCP2 is conserved from a common ancestor to both the Marsupialia and the Eutheria taxa.
authors.affiliation: School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, GPO Box 252-05, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia. alexander.kabat@utas.edu.au
authors.forename: Alexander P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Kabat
authors.forename: Randy W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Adrian K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: West
mesh_terms: D000064:Acclimatization / Q000502:physiology*; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D007473:Ion Channels; D008394:Marsupialia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology; D013648:Tasmania; D000071246:Uncoupling Protein 2; D000071247:Uncoupling Protein 3
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D007473:Ion Channels; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; C000604389:UCP2 protein, human; C000604392:UCP3 protein, human; C000604391:Ucp2 protein, rat; C000604394:Ucp3 protein, rat; D000071246:Uncoupling Protein 2; D000071247:Uncoupling Protein 3