title: Starvation-sensitive UCP 3 protein expression in thymus and spleen mitochondria.
abstract: To date, UCP 3 has only been associated with skeletal muscle and brown adipose tissue (BAT). Using RT-PCR/PCR methodology, we show that human spleen and human thymus contain UCP 3. In addition, using peptide antibodies, previously demonstrated to be selective for UCP 3, we show that UCP 3 protein is present in mitochondria isolated from rat thymus and mitochondria isolated from reticulocytes, monocytes and lymphocytes of rat spleen. UCP 3 protein expression is also starvation-sensitive. UCP 3 abundance is augmented in mitochondria isolated from thymus and mitochondria isolated from lymphocytes of the spleen from fasted rats when compared to fed controls. The results are consistent with a role for UCP 3 in developing lymphocytes, thymus atrophy and fatty acid utilisation in spleen and thymus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Trinity College Dublin, Biotechnology Bldg.-Rm 0.16, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Porter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D007473:Ion Channels; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012156:Reticulocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013217:Starvation / Q000378:metabolism*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000071247:Uncoupling Protein 3
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; C000604392:UCP3 protein, human; C000604394:Ucp3 protein, rat; D000071247:Uncoupling Protein 3