title: Mitochondrial uncoupling proteins as potential targets for pharmacological agents.
abstract: It is widely acknowledged that the function of the original uncoupling protein, UCP1, is uncoupling of substrate oxidation from ATP synthesis, and that its physiological purpose is thermogenesis. The mechanisms and physiological functions of the novel uncoupling proteins, identified within the past seven years, are as yet poorly understood. These novel uncoupling proteins are part of a large family comprising approximately 35 mitochondrial anion carrier proteins. UCP2 and UCP3 appear to function in reactive oxygen species handling and/or in fatty acid metabolism; uncoupling might occur secondarily. There is little information on UCP4 and UCP5 (BMCP1), and phylogenetic analyses indicate that they are further removed from UCP1 than mitochondrial anion carrier proteins, and have distinct functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada. MaryEllen.Harper@uottoawa.ca
authors.forename: Mary-Ellen
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Harper
authors.forename: Martin F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Gerrits
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D022722:Thermogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; C000604371:UCP1 protein, human; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1