Oxidative stress, thermogenesis and evolution of uncoupling proteins.
The uncoupling protein UCP1 provides eutherian mammals with an efficient thermogenic mechanism. Recent work published in BMC Evolutionary Biology, following the identification of UCP1 orthologs in non-eutherians, concludes that this unique function appeared after sequence divergence and purifying selection that allowed functional co-option.
Rial
Eduardo
E
Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Madrid, Spain. rial@cib.csic.es
Zardoya
Rafael
R
D000818:Animals; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000235:genetics*; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005810:Multigene Family; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010802:Phylogeny; D022722:Thermogenesis; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1
D007473:Ion Channels; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1