title: Genomic structure and regulation of mitochondrial uncoupling protein genes in mammals and plants.
abstract: Uncoupling mitochondrial proteins (UCPs) belong to a discrete family within the mitochondrial anion carrier superfamily. Several uncoupling protein types have been found in mitochondria from mammals and plants, as well as in fishes, fungi, and protozoa. Mammalian UCPs and plant uncoupling proteins (PUMPs) form five distinct subfamilies. Only subfamily III contains both plant and animal uncoupling proteins, as well as UCPs from primitive eukaryotic organisms, which suggest that this group may represent an ancestral cluster from which other UCPs/PUMPs may have evolved. Genetic data indicate that UCPs/PUMPs are regulated at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and translational levels. Tissue/organ- and stress-specific gene expression suggests that UCPs/PUMPs are involved in the general balance of basic energy expenditure, protection against reactive oxygen species, and thermogenesis. Finally, the simultaneous occurrence of PUMP and alternative oxidase, another energy-dissipating system in plant mitochondria, raises the question of their response to biotic and abiotic stress at the transcriptional and functional levels.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fábio T S
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Nogueira
authors.forename: Jiri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Borecký
authors.forename: Aníbal E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Vercesi
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arruda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms