Mitochondrial uncoupling proteins: new perspectives for evolutionary ecologists.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced damage on host cells and molecules has been considered the most likely proximal mechanism responsible for the age-related decline in organismal performance. Organisms have two possible ways to reduce the negative effect of ROS: disposing of effective antioxidant defenses and minimizing ROS production. The unbalance between the amount of ROS produced and the availability of antioxidant defenses determines the intensity of so-called oxidative stress. Interestingly, most studies that deal with the effect of oxidative stress on organismal performance have focused on the antioxidant defense compartment and, surprisingly, have neglected the mechanisms that control ROS production within mitochondria. Uncoupling proteins (UCPs), mitochondrial transporters of the inner membrane, are involved in the control of redox state of cells and in the production of mitochondrial ROS. Given their function, UCPs might therefore represent a major mechanistic link between metabolic activity and fitness. We suggest that by exploring the role of expression and function of UCPs both in experimental as well as in comparative studies, evolutionary biologists may gain better insight into this link.
Université Paris 5, Site NeckerEnfants Malades, Centre National Recherche Scientifique-Unité Propre de Recherche 9078, 156 rue de Vaugirard, 75730 Paris Cedex 15, France. criscuolo@wanadoo.fr
François
F
Criscuolo
Maria del Mar
Mdel M
Gonzalez-Barroso
Frederic
F
Bouillaud
Daniel
D
Ricquier
Bruno
B
Miroux
Gabriele
G
Sorci
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001717:Birds; D017753:Ecosystem; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D051336:Mitochondrial Membranes / Q000502:physiology; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013816:Thermodynamics; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1
D000596:Amino Acids; D007473:Ion Channels; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1