Description
Product Characteristics:
The uncoupling proteins (UCPs) are found in the inner mitochondrial membranes and belong to a family of mitochondrial anion transport proteins that include the phosphate and oxologutarate carriers and the ADP/ATP translocator. Three UCP subtypes have been identified and cloned. UCP 1 is abundantly expressed in brown adipose tissue of mammals. UCP 1 allows proton re-entry into the mitochondrial matrix without involving the F0-F1 ATPase which produces heat instead of ATP. It is thought that UCP 2 and 3 also dissipate the mitochondrial proton gradient produced by the respiratory chain in cells and tissues within which they are expressed. Studies have shown UCP 2 to be expressed by a variety of tissues. UCP 3 is expressed predominantly in brown adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, at lower levels in heart and smooth muscle, and is absent in liver and kidney.
Synonyms: Uncoupling Protein-3, UCP3, UCP 3, mitochondrial uncoupling protein 3, Solute carrier family 25 member 9, SLC25A9, UCP3_HUMAN.
Target Information: Mitochondrial uncoupling proteins (UCP) are members of the larger family of mitochondrial anion carrier proteins (MACP). UCPs separate oxidative phosphorylation from ATP synthesis with energy dissipated as heat, also referred to as the mitochondrial proton leak. UCPs facilitate the transfer of anions from the inner to the outer mitochondrial membrane and the return transfer of protons from the outer to the inner mitochondrial membrane. They also reduce the mitochondrial membrane potential in mammalian cells. The different UCPs have tissue-specific expression\, this gene is primarily expressed in skeletal muscle. This gene's protein product is postulated to protect mitochondria against lipid-induced oxidative stress. Expression levels of this gene increase when fatty acid supplies to mitochondria exceed their oxidation capacity and the protein enables the export of fatty acids from mitochondria. UCPs contain the three solcar protein domains typically found in MACPs. Two splice variants have been found for this gene.[provided by RefSeq, Nov 2008]