Thermoregulation: what role for UCPs in mammals and birds?
Mammals and birds are endotherms and respond to cold exposure by the means of regulatory thermogenesis, either shivering or non-shivering. In this latter case, waste of cell energy as heat can be achieved by uncoupling of mitochondrial respiration. Uncoupling proteins, which belong to the mitochondrial carrier family, are able to transport protons and thus may assume a thermogenic function. The mammalian UCP1 physiological function is now well understood and gives to the brown adipose tissue the capacity for heat generation. But is it really the case for its more recently discovered isoforms UCP2 and UCP3? Additionally, whereas more and more evidence suggests that non-shivering also exists in birds, is the avian UCP also involved in response to cold exposure? In this review, we consider the latest advances in the field of UCP biology and present putative functions for UCP1 homologues.
Mozo
Julien
J
Faculté de Médecine Necker-Enfants Malades, CNRS-UPR 9078, 156 rue de Vaugirard, 75730, Paris, Cedex 15, France.
Emre
Yalin
Y
Bouillaud
Frederic
F
Ricquier
Daniel
D
Criscuolo
Francois
F
D000064:Acclimatization; D002001:Adipose Tissue, Brown / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000502:physiology*; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels; D008322:Mammals / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D006728:Hormones; D007473:Ion Channels; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C000604371:UCP1 protein, human; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1