Fatty Acid Interaction with Mitochondrial Uncoupling Proteins

The phenomena of fatty acid interaction with mitochondrial integral membrane proteins, namelyuncoupling proteins (UCPs), are reviewed to emphasize the fatty acid cycling mechanism thathas been suggested to explain the UCP function. Fatty acid-induced uncoupling is suggestedto serve in bioenergetic systems, to set the optimum efficiency, and to tune the degree ofcoupling of oxidative phosphorylation. Fatty acid interaction with the classic uncouplingprotein (UCP1) from mitochondria of thermogenic brown adipose tissue (BAT) is well known.UCP1 is considered to mediate purine nucleotide-sensitive uniport of monovalent unipolaranions, including anionic fatty acids. The return of protonated fatty acid leads to H⁺ uniportand uncoupling. Experiments supporting this mechanism are also reviewed for plant uncouplingmitochondrial protein (PUMP) and ADP/ATP carrier. The fatty acid cycling mechanism ispredicted, as well for the recently discovered uncoupling proteins, UCP2 and UCP3.     

UCP3 Translocates Lipid Hydroperoxide and Mediates Lipid Hydroperoxide-dependent Mitochondrial Uncoupling

Although the literature contains many studies on the function of UCP3, its role is still being debated. It has been hypothesized that UCP3 may mediate lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH) translocation across the mitochondrial inner membrane (MIM), thus protecting the mitochondrial matrix from this very aggressive molecule. However, no experiments on mitochondria have provided evidence in support of this hypothesis. Here, using mitochondria isolated from UCP3-null mice and their wild-type littermates, we demonstrate the following. (i) In the absence of free fatty acids, proton conductance did not differ between wild-type and UCP3-null mitochondria. Addition of arachidonic acid (AA) to such mitochondria induced an increase in proton conductance, with wild-type mitochondria showing greater enhancement. In wild-type mitochondria, the uncoupling effect of AA was significantly reduced both when the release of O₂^˙̄ in the matrix was inhibited and when the formation of LOOH was inhibited. In UCP3-null mitochondria, however, the uncoupling effect of AA was independent of the above mechanisms. (ii) In the presence of AA, wild-type mitochondria released significantly more LOOH compared with UCP3-null mitochondria. This difference was abolished both when UCP3 was inhibited by GDP and under a condition in which there was reduced LOOH formation on the matrix side of the MIM. These data demonstrate that UCP3 is involved both in mediating the translocation of LOOH across the MIM and in LOOH-dependent mitochondrial uncoupling.     

Evolution of mitochondrial uncoupling proteins: novel invertebrate UCP homologues suggest early evolutionary divergence of the UCP family

Current hypothesis about the evolution of uncoupling proteins (UCPs) proposed by suggests that UCP4 is the earliest form of UCP ancestral to all other UCP orthologues. However, this hypothesis is difficult to reconcile with a narrow tissue distribution of UCP4 (which is a brain-specific isoform), suggesting highly specialized rather than anfcestral function for this protein. We searched for UCP2, UCP3, and UCP5 homologues in invertebrate genomes using amplification with degenerate primers designed against UCP2-specific conserved sequences and/or BLASTP search with stringent ad hoc criteria to distinguish between homologues and orthologues of different UCPs. Our study identified invertebrate UCP homologues similar to UCP2 and 3 (which we termed UCP6) and an invertebrate homologue of UCP5. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that there are at least three clades of UCPs in invertebrates, which are closely related to vertebrate UCP1-3, UCP4, and UCP5, respectively, and shows early evolutionary divergence of UCPs, which pre-dates the divergence of protostomes and deuterostomes. It also suggests that the newly identified UCP6 proteins from invertebrates are ancestral to the vertebrate UCP1, UCP2, and UCP3, and that divergence of these three vertebrate orthologues occurred late in evolution of the vertebrates. This study refutes the hypothesis of Hanak and Jezek (2001) that UCP4 is an ancestral form for all UCPs, and shows early evolutionary diversification of this protein family, which corresponds to their proposed functional diversity in regulation of proton leak, antioxidant defense and apoptosis.     

A History of the First Uncoupling Protein, UCP1

The lack of energy conservation in brown adipose tissue mitochondria when prepared byconventional methods was established in the 1960s and was correlated with the thermogenicfunction of the tissue. In order to observe energy conservation, two requirements had to bemet: the removal of the endogenous fatty acids and the addition of a purine nucleotide. Thesetwo factors have been the essential tools that led to the discovery of the energy dissipationpathway, the uncoupling protein UCP1. The activity is regulated by these two ligands. Purinenucleotides bind from the cytosolic side of the protein and inhibit transport. Fatty acids actas seconds messengers of noradrenaline and increase the proton conductance. This reviewpresents a historical perspective of the steps that led to the discovery of UCP1, its regulation,and our current view on its mechanism of transport.     

解偶联蛋白基因-3826多态性与其mRNA表达相关性的研究

为了探讨解偶联蛋白（ＵＣＰ）基因－３８２６多态性与ＵＣＰｍＲＮＡ表达水平之间可能存在的联系,应用ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ方法测定了ＵＣＰ基因－３８２６多态性野生型（ＡＡ）,杂合子（ＡＧ）和突变纯合子（ＧＧ）３组人群脂肪组织中ＵＣＰｍＲＮＡ的表达水平．定量结果指出：３种基因型（ＡＡ、ＡＧ和ＧＧ）携带者腹膜内脂肪的ＵＣＰｍＲＮＡ表达水平存在极显著差异（Ｐ＜０．０１）,并显示突变等位基因（Ｇ）的数量与ＵＣＰｍＲＮＡ表达水平呈负相关．此结果表明ＵＣＰ基因Ａ→Ｇ（－３８２６）变异与ＵＣＰｍＲＮＡ表达水平降低密切相关．但该变异导致ＵＣＰｍＲＮＡ表达水平降低的机制还有待进一步研究     

The Mitochondrial Genome of Raphanus sativus and Gene Evolution of Cruciferous Mitochondrial Types

To explore the mitochondrial genes of the Cruciferae family, the mitochondrial genome of Raphanus sativus (sat) was sequenced and annotated. The circular mitochondrial genome of sat is 239,723 bp and includes 33 protein-coding genes, three rRNA genes and 17 tRNA genes. The mitochondrial genome also contains a pair of large repeat sequences 5.9 kb in length, which may mediate genome reorga-nization into two sub-genomic circles, with predicted sizes of 124.8 kb and 115.0 kb, respectively. Furthermore, gene evolution of mitochondrial genomes within the Cruciferae family was analyzed using sat mitochondrial type (mitotype), together with six other re-ported mitotypes. The cruciferous mitochondrial genomes have maintained almost the same set of functional genes. Compared with Cycas taitungensis (a representative gymnosperm), the mitochondrial genomes of the Cruciferae have lost nine protein-coding genes and seven mitochondrial-like tRNA genes, but acquired six chloroplast-like tRNAs. Among the Cruciferae, to maintain the same set of genes that are necessary for mitochondrial function, the exons of the genes have changed at the lowest rates, as indicated by the numbers of single nucleotide polymorphisms. The open reading frames (ORFs) of unknown function in the cruciferous genomes are not conserved. Evolutionary events, such as mutations, genome reorganizations and sequence insertions or deletions (indels), have resulted in the non- conserved ORFs in the cruciferous mitochondrial genomes, which is becoming significantly different among mitotypes. This work represents the first phylogenic explanation of the evolution of genes of known function in the Cruciferae family. It revealed significant variation in ORFs and the causes of such variation.     

Selective detection of UCP 3 expression in skeletal muscle: effect of thyroid status and temperature acclimation

A novel peptide antibody to UCP 3 is characterized which is sensitive and discriminatory for UCP 3 over UCP 2, UCP 1 and other mitochondrial transporters. The peptide antibody detects UCP 3 expression in E. coli, COS cells and yeast expression systems. The peptide antibody detects a single ∼33 kDa protein band in mitochondria from isolated rat skeletal muscle, mouse and rat brown adipose tissue, and in whole muscle groups (soleus and extensor digitorum longus) from mice. No 33 kDa band is detectable in isolated mitochondria from liver, heart, brain, kidney and lungs of rats, or gastrocnemius mitochondria from UCP 3 knock-out mice. From our data, we conclude that the peptide antibody is detecting UCP 3 in skeletal muscle, skeletal muscle mitochondria and brown adipose tissue mitochondria. It is also noteworthy that the peptide antibody can detect human, mouse and rat forms of UCP 3. Using the UCP 3 peptide antibody, we confirm and quantify the increased (2.8-fold) UCP 3 expression observed in skeletal muscle mitochondria isolated from 48-h-starved rats. We show that UCP 3 expression is increased (1.6-fold) in skeletal muscle of rats acclimated over 8 weeks to 8 °C and that UCP 3 expression is decreased (1.4-fold) in rats acclimated to 30 °C. Furthermore, UCP 3 expression is increased (2.3-fold) in skeletal muscle from hyperthyroid rats compared to euthyroid controls. In addition, we show that UCP 3 expression is only coincident with the mitochondrial fraction of skeletal muscle homogenates and not peroxisomal, nuclear or cytosolic and microsomal fractions.     

Modeling the transmembrane arrangement of the uncoupling protein UCP1 and topological considerations of the nucleotide-binding site

The uncoupling protein from brown adipose tissue (UCP1) is a mitochondrial proton transporter whose activity is inhibited by purine nucleotides. UCP1, like the other members of the mitochondrial transporter superfamily, is an homodimer and each subunit contains six transmembrane segments. In an attempt to understand the structural elements that are important for nucleotide binding, a model for the transmembrane arrangement of UCP1 has been built by computational methods. Biochemical and sequence analysis considerations are taken as constraints. The main features of the model include the following: (i) the six transmembrane -helices (TMHs) associate to form an antiparallel helix bundle; (ii) TMHs have an amphiphilic nature and thus the hydrophobic and variable residues face the lipid bilayer; (iii) matrix loops do not penetrate in the core of the bundle; and (iv) the polar core constitutes the translocation pathway. Photoaffinity labeling and mutagenesis studies have identified several UCP1 regions that interact with the nucleotide. We present a model where the nucleotide binds deep inside the bundle core. The purine ring interacts with the matrix loops while the polyphosphate chain is stabilized through interactions with essential Arg residues in the TMH and whose side chains face the core of the helix bundle.     

Fatty Acids Change the Conformation of Uncoupling Protein 1 (UCP1)

UCP1 catalyzes proton leak across the mitochondrial inner membrane to disengage substrate oxidation from ATP production. It is well established that UCP1 is activated by fatty acids and inhibited by purine nucleotides, but precisely how this regulation occurs remains unsettled. Although fatty acids can competitively overcome nucleotide inhibition in functional assays, fatty acids have little effect on purine nucleotide binding. Here, we present the first demonstration that fatty acids induce a conformational change in UCP1. Palmitate dramatically changed the binding kinetics of 2′/3′-O-(N-methylanthraniloyl)-GDP, a fluorescently labeled nucleotide analog, for UCP1. Furthermore, palmitate accelerated the rate of enzymatic proteolysis of UCP1. The altered kinetics of both processes indicate that fatty acids change the conformation of UCP1, reconciling the apparent discrepancy between existing functional and ligand binding data. Our results provide a framework for how fatty acids and nucleotides compete to regulate the activity of UCP1.     

解偶联蛋白及功能研究进展

解偶联蛋白(ucP,uncoupling protein)是一类线粒体内膜上的载体,属于线粒体载体超家族,可以将H^ 从线粒体内膜渗漏到线粒体基质中,减少ATP的合成并产生热能。已知UCPl在小鼠中有维持体温和能量稳态的重要作用。而UCP2和UCP3可控制活性氧(reactive oxygen species,ROS)产生、调节脂肪酸氧化,并且在肥胖和糖尿病发生中有重要作用。     

金丝猴属的DNA序列变异及进化与保护遗传学研究

金丝猴的分类及系统发育存在许多争议。本文测定了２只川金丝猴、８只滇金丝猴、１只越南金丝猴和１只灰叶猴的２５３ｂｐ的线粒体细胞色素ｂ基因的序列。其中４７个位点（１９％）检出变异。我们采用简约法、最大似然法和距离法构建了一系列的分子系统树,得到相同的拓扑结构,从而可能在分子水平澄清了金丝猴属的系统发育。结果表明,云南金丝猴与越南金丝猴间的关系较与川金丝猴的为近。金丝猴属的分化大约发生在２～６百万年以前。这３种金丝猴均是独立的种,且都应归入金丝猴属。对８只来自野外的滇金丝猴（其中包括了昆明动物研究所圈养群体的所有６只创立者）的非损伤性遗传分析提示,编号为ＹＫ２的母猴是维持该圈养群体遗传多样性的关键猴。我们建立的这种非损伤性遗传分析方法广泛适用于珍稀濒危动物的遗传多样性及遗传管理研究。     

Functional Characterization of a Drosophila Mitochondrial Uncoupling Protein

Sequence alignment of conserved signature motifs predicts the existence of the uncoupling protein 5 (UCP5)/brain mitochondrial carrier protein (BMCP1) homologue in Drosophila melanogaster. Here we demonstrate the functional characterization of the Drosophila melanogaster UCP5 protein (DmUCP5) in the heterologous yeast system, the first insect UCP reported to date. We show that physiological levels of DmUCP5 expression are responsible for an increase in state 4 respiration rates and a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, similar to UCP1, UCP2, and UCP3, the uncoupling activity of DmUCP5 is augmented by fatty acids and inhibited by the purine nucleotide GDP. Thus, DmUCP5 shares the mechanisms known to regulate the UCPs characterized to date. A lack of growth inhibition observed in DmUCP5 expressing yeast is consistent with the notion that physiological uncoupling has a minimal effect on cell growth. Finally, semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis shows a distinctive pattern of DmUCP5 expression predominantly localized in the adult head, similar to the expression pattern of its mammalian homologues. The conserved regulation of the expression of this gene from mammals to fruit flies suggests a role for UCP5 in the brain.     

UCP1 ectopically expressed in murine muscle displays native function and mitigates mitochondrial superoxide production

Mitochondrial uncoupling in skeletal muscle has raised a major interest as a therapeutic target for treatment of obesity, insulin sensitivity, and age-related disease. These physiological effects could be demonstrated in several mouse models ectopically expressing uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). Here, we investigated whether UCP1 expressed under the control of the human skeletal actin (HSA) promoter in mouse skeletal muscle can be regulated, and whether it affects mitochondrial superoxide production. We show that the skeletal muscle UCP1 can be fully inhibited by a purine nucleotide (GDP) and reactivated by fatty acids (palmitate). During mitochondrial resting state (State 4), mitochondrial superoxide production is about 76% lower in transgenic mice. We suggest that this reduction is due to uncoupling activity as the administration of GDP restores superoxide production to wildtype levels. Our study confirms native behaviour of UCP1 in skeletal muscle and demonstrates beneficial effects on prevention of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production which may reduce age-related deleterious processes.     

Uncoupling protein UCP2: When mitochondrial activity meets immunity

Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) belongs to the family of mitochondrial carriers. Here, we highlight recent findings regarding UCP2 function in the immune system. UCP2 controls immune cell activation by modulating MAPK pathways and the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. In several models of infection, inflammation and autoimmunity, a regulatory impact of UCP2 was demonstrated by its direct implication in the production of cytokines and nitric oxide and in cell migration. In addition, UCP2 is reported as a key protein for oxidation of fatty acids, glutamine and glucose. Therefore we present a model of how the regulation of nutrient oxidation by UCP2 promotes immune cell activation.     

鲢鱼解偶联蛋白2全长cDNA序列的克隆及其组织表达

从淡水食毒藻鱼类鲢鱼(Hypophthalmichthysmolitrix)肝脏,通过简并引物克隆解偶联蛋白2(un-couplingprotein2,UCP2)cDNA核心序列,应用5′RACE和3′RACE技术分别扩增该序列的5′末端和3′末端序列,最后通过序列拼接获得鲢鱼肝脏UCP2cDNA全序列。序列分析结果表明,鲢鱼肝脏UCP2cDNA全长1452bp,其中5′-UTR长337bp,3′-UTR长182bp,编码区933bp,编码310个氨基酸,推测的氨基酸序列包含线粒体内膜载体蛋白3个特征结构及解偶联蛋白(UCPs)的特征序列。对鲢鱼不同组织UCP2的表达调控研究发现,鲢鱼组织UCP2基因在肠道、肝脏、肌肉、脂肪组织均大量表达,而在脑组织表达量较低,这与鲢鱼体内微囊藻毒素在这几个组织的分布完全一致,表明UCP2的功能可能与抑制微囊藻毒素引发过量活性氧(ROS)生成有关。     

The reactions catalysed by the mitochondrial uncoupling proteins UCP2 and UCP3

The mitochondrial uncoupling proteins UCP2 and UCP3 may be important in attenuating mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species, in insulin signalling (UCP2), and perhaps in thermogenesis and other processes. To understand their physiological roles, it is necessary to know what reactions they are able to catalyse. We critically examine the evidence for proton transport and anion transport by UCP2 and UCP3. There is good evidence that they increase mitochondrial proton conductance when activated by superoxide, reactive oxygen species derivatives such as hydroxynonenal, and other alkenals or their analogues. However, they do not catalyse proton leak in the absence of such acute activation. They can also catalyse export of fatty acid and other anions, although the relationship of anion transport to proton transport remains controversial.     

酒精性心肌病大鼠心肌解偶联蛋白2表达及能量代谢变化

目的:观察心肌解偶联蛋白2(uncoupling protein 2,UCP2)在酒精性心肌病(alcoholic cardiomyopathy,ACM)时表达变化及对心肌能量代谢的影响.方法:将Wistar大鼠分为三组,酒精组(A组,10只)、少量饮酒组(B组,7只)和对照组(C组,7只),三组给予相同饮食,酒精组通过采取逐渐增加饮用酒精浓度并长期定量摄入的方法建立ACM模型,少量饮酒组长期饮用少量低浓度酒精,对照组以水代酒.6个月后心脏彩超测定心功能;计算左室/体重指数;RT-PCR法测定心肌组织UCP2 mRNA表达;Western blot法测定心肌UCP2蛋白表达;高效液相色谱分析法测定心肌三磷酸腺苷酸(ATP)、二磷酸腺苷酸(ADP)、单磷酸腺苷酸(AMP)和磷酸肌酸(PCr)含量.结果:酒精组左心室射血分数和左心室短轴缩短率均低于对照组和少量饮酒组(P均＜0.01),左心室舒张末期内径则高于对照组和少量饮酒组(P＜0.01),左室/体重指数明显增加(P＜0.01);酒精组UCP2 mRNA及蛋白表达高于对照组和少量饮酒组(P均＜0.01);酒精组ATP、ADP、AMP和PCr较对照组和少量饮酒组明显减少(P均＜0.01),相关性分析显示心肌组织ATP水平与UCP2蛋白表达呈显著负相关(r=0.896,P＜0.01).结论:ACM时心肌UCP2表达明显增加,导致心肌能量代谢障碍,恶化心脏功能.     

Uncoupling mechanism and redox regulation of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1)

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) and brown in white (brite) adipose tissue, termed also beige adipose tissue, are major sites of mammalian nonshivering thermogenesis. Mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), specific for these tissues, is the key factor for heat production. Recent molecular aspects of UCP1 structure provide support for the fatty acid cycling model of coupling, i.e. when UCP1 expels fatty acid anions in a uniport mode from the matrix, while uncoupling. Protonophoretic function is ensured by return of the protonated fatty acid to the matrix independent of UCP1. This mechanism is advantageous for mitochondrial uncoupling and compatible with heat production in a pro-thermogenic environment, such as BAT. It must still be verified whether posttranslational modification of UCP1, such as sulfenylation of Cys253, linked to redox activity, promotes UCP1 activity. BAT biogenesis and UCP1 expression, has also been linked to the pro-oxidant state of mitochondria, further endorsing a redox signalling link promoting an establishment of pro-thermogenic state. We discuss circumstances under which promotion of superoxide formation exceeds its attenuation by uncoupling in mitochondria and throughout point out areas of future research into UCP1 function.