耐力训练抑制急性低氧时骨骼肌线粒体生物能学变化:ROS和UCP3的作用(英文)

骨骼肌线粒体解耦联蛋白3（uncoupling protein3,UCP3）在低氧时的生理作用尚不清楚。本研究观察了大鼠在耐力训练前后,模拟急性高原低氧各时间点的骨骼肌线粒体UCP3 mRNA和蛋白表达、线粒体呼吸功能、活性氧（reactive oxygen species,ROS）产生速率以及锰超氧化物歧化酶（manganese superoxide dismutase,MnSOD）表达和活性的变化。急性低氧导致线粒体一系列生物能学功能障碍。未训练大鼠UCP3蛋白在4h时比静息时升高了60％,而MnSOD蛋白含量及活性在低氧暴露过程中无显著变化;UCP3蛋白上调通过降低电子传递链耦联程度抑制O2-产生,但同时降低了ATP合成效率。耐力训练显著抑制急性低氧诱导的骨骼肌UCP3蛋白上调（67％;S42％）。训练组大鼠的ROS产生速率在低氧2h、4h和6h时显著低于未训练组;MnSOD蛋白含量及活性分别较术训练组提高了50％和34％。训练组人鼠MnSOD上调可增加线粒体对ROS的耐受力,进而抑制UCP3蛋白表达,从而提高氧化磷酸化效率。急性低氧中,未训练组大鼠呼吸控制比（respiratory control ratio,RCR）和磷氧比（ADP to oxygen consumption ratio,P／O）显著降低,而训练组RCR和P／O保持相对稳定。以上结果提示：（1）模拟急性高原低氧可诱导UCP3 mRNA及蛋白表达升高,从而降低升高了的线粒体膜电位（△ψ）,使ROS的产生减少;（2）耐力训练可抑制低氧诱导的UCP3表达上调,提高ROS酶学清除能力,从而提高线粒体氧化磷酸化效率。     

低氧大鼠脑线粒体体外转录活性的研究

目的：探讨低氧对大鼠脑线粒体DNA表达的影响及其与能量生成的关系。方法：雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为3组：急性低氧组（AH）、慢性低氧组（CH）和对照组,其中急、慢性低氧组动物分别连续暴露于模拟海拔4000m高原3d(AH)和40d（CH）。分离脑线粒体,分别测定线粒体体外转录活性、F0F1－ATP酶活性以及ATP对线粒体体外转录的影响。结果：急性低氧大鼠脑线粒体体外转录活性及F0F1－ATP酶活性显著降低,慢性低氧时有所回升,两者呈线性相关。ATP对大鼠脑线粒体体外转录活性呈双相效应。结论：低氧时脑线粒体转录活性改变可能参与低氧抑制线粒体能量代谢的机制,ATP可能通过反馈作用对线粒体转录进行微调。     

GDP在体外对大鼠脑线粒体脱耦联蛋白活性和表达的影响

本研究通过GDP体外处理大鼠脑组织块,观察GDP对脑线粒体脱耦联蛋白(uncoupling proteins,UCPs)活性、UCP4和UCP5表达的影响,以探讨嘌呤核苷酸对大鼠脑UCPs的调节作用.取Sprague-Dawley大鼠双侧大脑半球,将脑组织切成约8-10 mm3的脑组织块,与含1 mmol/L GDP的孵育介质共孵育30 min后,匀浆并差速离心分离提取大鼠脑组织线粒体,采用[3H]-GTP结合法测定UCPs活性,并以Scatehard作图法计算两者结合的解离常数(Kd)和最大结合量(Bmax);RT-PCR和Western blot分别检测UCP4和UCP5的mRNA和蛋白表达.结果显示,1 mmol/L GDP可降低体外大鼠脑组织线粒体中UCPs与[3H]-GTP结合的Bmax,提高Kd,但对脑纰织中UCP4和UCP5 mRNA和蛋白表达量的改变无统计学意义.上述结果提示,GDP可直接抑制体外大鼠脑组织中UCPs的活性,但并不影响UCP4和UCP5的表达.     

慢性间断低氧暴露对大鼠心肌线粒体ATP酶及吸链酶复合物的影响

目的:研究慢性间断低氧暴露对大鼠心肌线粒体Na 、K -ATPase和Ca2 、Mg2 -ATPase以及呼吸链酶复合物Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ活性的影响.方法:经慢性间断低氧暴露(模拟海拔3 000 m、5 000 m分别低氧,每天4 h,共2周,最后8 000 m低氧4 h)和急性低氧(模拟海拔8 000 m低氧4 h)的大鼠,断头处死,迅速取出心脏,分离心肌线粒体,用水解磷酸根法测定ATP酶活性,用Clark氧电极法测定呼吸链酶复合物的活性.结果:①慢性间断低氧暴露对大鼠心肌线粒体Na 、K -ATPase的活性无明显影响.②急性低氧大鼠心肌线粒体Ca2 、Mg2 -ATPase的活性较正常大鼠显著降低,而慢性间断低氧暴露大鼠心肌线粒体Ca2 、Mg2 -ATPase的活性则明显升高,接近正常水平.③急性低氧大鼠心肌线粒体呼吸链酶复合物I(NADH-CoQ还原酶)、复合物Ⅱ(琥珀酸-CoQ还原酶)、复合物IV(细胞色素氧化酶)活性较正常大鼠显著降低,而经慢性间断低氧暴露后,三者的活性均显著提高.相同实验条件下,低氧对复合物Ⅲ(CoQ-细胞色素C还原酶)活性无明显影响.结论:慢性间断低氧暴露可以显著提高心肌线粒体Ca2 、Mg2 -ATPase和呼吸链酶复合物Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅳ的活性,从而改善低氧时心肌线粒体呼吸链的功能,维持心肌正常能量代谢,最终提高心肌收缩和舒张功能.     

急性及慢性低氧对大白鼠和高原鼠兔肝线粒体呼吸功能的影响

本实验用氧电极法测定在急性及慢性低氧条件下,S.D大白鼠及高原鼠兔(Ochotona curzoniae)肝线粒体的氧化磷酸化效率及呼吸控制率之变化。结果表明:大白鼠和高原鼠兔经24小时急性低氧暴露后,其氧化磷酸化效率无明显变化;呼吸控制率在高原鼠兔中无明显变化,而在大白鼠中却有明显增加,这种增加是由于呼吸状态Ⅳ呼吸速度降低而引起的。经25天的慢性低氧暴露后,大白鼠和高原鼠兔的氧化磷酸化效率仍无明显变化,但大白鼠在海拔7000米时的呼吸控制率则有明显下降,而高原鼠兔却明显增加。实验结果提示:在细胞呼吸水平方面,高原鼠兔对低氧的耐受力明显高于大鼠。     

棕榈酸的组织吸收分布及对骨骼肌胰岛素抵抗的影响

脂肪酸代谢紊乱是Ⅱ型糖尿病的主要致病因素之一。棕榈酸是血液中含量最高的游离脂肪酸。我们建立了大鼠颈静脉置管输注棕榈酸的模型,发现血液中的大部分棕榈酸被骨骼肌组织所吸收。以棕榈酸处理的C2C12骨骼肌细胞为实验模型发现,棕榈酸进入骨骼肌细胞后的中间代谢产物(磷脂和甘油二酯)的累积,会造成内质网应激及胰岛素抵抗。提示血液中棕榈酸含量的升高可能通过骨骼肌的胰岛素抵抗机制,影响Ⅱ型糖尿病的发生和发展。     

高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔心脏对低氧环境的适应

为了探讨高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔心脏对低氧环境的适应机制,以Sprague-Dawley (SD)大鼠为对照,测量三者的心脏/体重比(HW/BW)、右心室/(左心室 室间隔)重量比[RV/(LV S)];应用免疫组织化学方法测定心肌微血管密度(microvessel density, MVD);通过显微体视学技术比较线粒体的面数密度(NA,单位面积中线粒体数目)、体密度(Vv,单位体积心肌纤维中线粒体的体积密度)、面密度(Sv,单位体积心肌纤维中线粒体外膜的面积密度)、比表面(δ,线粒体外膜面积与其自身体积的比);用分光光度法测定心肌中的肌红蛋白(myoglobin, Mb)含量、乳酸(lactic acid, LD)含量和乳酸脱氢酶(lactate dehydrogenase, LDH)活力;聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳观察LDH同工酶谱.结果显示:高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔HB/WB显著大于SD大鼠(P<0.05), RV/(LV S)显著小于SD大鼠(P<0.05).高原鼢鼠、高原鼠兔和SD大鼠心肌MVD和线粒体NA依次递减(P<0.05);高原鼢鼠线粒体Vv显著低于高原鼠兔和SD大鼠(P<0.05),高原鼠兔与SD大鼠之间没有明显差异;高原鼢鼠线粒体Sv显著高于SD大鼠(P<0.05),与高原鼠兔相比无明显差异;高原鼠兔和SD大鼠的线粒体δ无显著差异,但均明显低于高原鼢鼠(P<0.05).高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔心肌Mb含量显著高于SD大鼠(P<0.05);高原鼢鼠心肌LD含量显著高于高原鼠兔和SD大鼠(P<0.05);两种高原动物心肌LDH活力显著低于SD大鼠(P<0.05).同工酶谱显示,高原鼢鼠、高原鼠兔和SD大鼠的LDH中H亚基所占比例依次递减.以上结果提示,高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔通过增加心肌线粒体Sv、MVD以及Mb含量提高其在低氧环境获取氧的能力;同时,由于生境和习性上的不同,两者线粒体指标又表现出差异性.     

大鼠运动性疲劳模型的建立

目的建立大鼠运动疲劳模型,观察运动疲劳对大鼠各项生理、生化指标的影响。方法20只大鼠随机分为正常对照组和运动疲劳模型组,运动疲劳模型组大鼠每日按照方案进行锻炼。实验结束后大鼠检测相关指标：血清MDA含量和红细胞SOD活性,肝脏与骨骼肌MDA含量、SOD活性,骨骼肌线粒体游离钙离子含量,骨骼肌线粒体膜电位,下丘脑神经递质。电镜观察骨骼肌线粒体细微结构。结果运动疲劳模型组大鼠造模2周以后其血清、肝和骨骼肌MDA含量均有显著升高,红细胞和骨骼肌SOD活性均有显著降低,骨骼肌线粒体膜电位显著性降低,骨骼肌线粒体游离Ca2＋含量有显著性降低,下丘脑GABA、5-HT含量有显著升高,下丘脑DA、ACh含量有显著性下降,电镜观察显示骨骼肌超微结构改变并以线粒体改变较为明显。结论大鼠跑台运动2周可造成运动疲劳模型,并造成大鼠骨骼肌线粒体损伤。     

低氧复合运动抑制低氧诱导的骨骼肌线粒体DNA氧化损伤

本文旨在观察低氧复合运动对低氧状态下大鼠骨骼肌线粒体DNA(mtDNA)氧化损伤及线粒体8-氧鸟嘌呤DNA糖基化酶(OGG1)表达的影响,并探讨其可能机制。雄性Sprague-Dawley(SD)大鼠随机分为常氧对照组(NC)、常氧运动组(NT)、低氧对照组(HC)和低氧复合运动组(HT)。低氧干预为常压低氧帐篷,11.3%氧浓度持续暴露4周。运动干预为跑台训练(5o,15m/min),60 min/d,5 d/周,共4周。结果显示,HC组与NC组比较,线粒体复合体I、II、IV、ATP合成酶活性和膜电位显著降低(P0.05或P0.01),锰超氧化物歧化酶(MnSOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPx)和OGG1活性显著降低(P0.05或P0.01),线粒体活性氧(ROS)生成速率和mtDNA中8-oxodG含量显著升高(P0.01),SIRT3蛋白表达、骨骼肌和线粒体烟碱胺腺嘌呤二核苷酸氧化还原型比值([NAD+]/[NADH])显著降低(P0.05或P0.01)。HT组和HC组比较,线粒体复合体I、II、IV、ATP合成酶活性和膜电位显著升高(P0.05或P0.01),MnSOD、GPx、OGG1活性和线粒体OGG1蛋白表达显著升高(P0.01),线粒体ROS生成速率和mtDNA中8-oxodG含量显著降低(P0.01),SIRT3蛋白表达、骨骼肌和线粒体[NAD+]/[NADH]显著升高(P0.05或P0.01)。以上结果提示,低氧复合运动可上调线粒体OGG1和抗氧化酶,抑制低氧诱导的mtDNA氧化损伤,运动训练对[NAD+]/[NADH]和SIRT3的上调可能参与了对骨骼肌线粒体低氧耐受能力的增强调控。     

不同低氧训练模式对大鼠力竭运动后骨骼肌线粒体抗氧化能力及呼吸链酶复合体活性的影响

本研究旨在观察4种低氧训练模式对大鼠骨骼肌线粒体抗氧化能力及呼吸链酶复合体活性的影响。将雄性Wistar大鼠40只随机均分为5组(n=8):常氧训练组(LoLo)、高住高练组(HiHi)、高住低训组(HiLo)、低住高练组(LoHi)和高住高练低训组(HiHiLo)。各组大鼠分别在常氧(海拔1500m,大气压632mmHg)或/和低氧(模拟海拔3500m,大气压493mmHg)环境中居住及递增负荷训练5周,每周训练6天。各组大鼠在最后一次训练后,在常氧环境恢复3天,然后进行力竭运动,之后即刻取骨骼肌样本,用差速离心法提取骨骼肌线粒体,分光光度法测定丙二醛(malondialdehyde,MDA)含量及超氧化物歧化酶(su-peroxide dismutase,SOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(glutathione peroxidase,GSH-Px)和过氧化氢酶(catalase,CAT)活性及呼吸链酶复合体Ⅰ～Ⅲ(CⅠ～Ⅲ)活性。结果显示,与LoLo组相比,HiHi和HiHiLo组骨骼肌组织MDA含量均显著升高(P<0.01),SOD、GSH-Px和CAT活性均显著升高(P<0.05或P<0.01)。与LoL...     

Evidence for Involvement of Uncoupling Proteins in Cerebral Mitochondrial Oxidative Phosphorylation Deficiency of Rats Exposed to 5,000 m High Altitude

The present study aimed to investigate the change of proton leak and discuss the role of cerebral uncoupling proteins (UCPs) and its regulatory molecules non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) in high altitude mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation deficiency. The model group animals were exposed to acute high altitude hypoxia, and the mitochondrial respiration, protein leak, UCPs abundance/activity and cerebral NEFA concentration were measured. We found that in the model group, cerebral mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation was severely impaired with decreased ST3 respiration rate and ATP pool. Proton leak kinetics curves demonstrated an increase in proton leak; GTP binding assay pointed out that total cerebral UCPs activity significantly increased; Q-PCR and western blot showed upregulated expression of UCP4 and UCP5. Moreover, cerebral NEFA concentration increased. In conclusion, UCPs mediated proton leak is closely related to cerebral mitochondria oxidative phosphorylation deficiency during acute high altitude hypoxia and NEFA is involved in this signaling pathway.     

Functional characterization of the mitochondrial uncoupling proteins from the white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

Mitochondrial uncoupling proteins (UCPs) play an essential role in dissipating the proton gradient and controlling the mitochondrial inner membrane potential. When active, UCPs promote proton leak across the inner membrane, oxidative phosphorylation uncoupling, oxygen uptake increase and decrease the ATP synthesis. Invertebrates possess only isoforms UCP4 and UCP5, however, the role of these proteins is not clear in most species since it may depend on the physiological needs of each animal. This study presents the first functional characterization of crustacean uncoupling proteins from the white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei LvUCP4 and LvUCP5. Free radicals production in various shrimp organs/tissues was first evaluated, and mitochondria were isolated from shrimp pleopods. The oxygen consumption rate, membrane potential and proton transport of the isolated non-phosphorylating mitochondria were used to determine LvUCPs activation/inhibition. Results indicate that UCPs activity is stimulated in the presence of 4-hydroxyl-2-nonenal (HNE) and myristic acid, and inhibited by the purine nucleotide GDP. A hypoxia/re-oxygenation assay was conducted to determine whether UCPs participate in shrimp mitochondria response to oxidative stress. Isolated mitochondria from shrimp at re-oxygenation produced large quantities of hydrogen peroxide and higher levels of both LvUCPs were immunodetected. Results suggest that, besides the active response of the shrimp antioxidant system, UCP-like activity is activated after hypoxia exposure and during re-oxygenation. LvUCPs may represent a mild uncoupling mechanism, which may be activated before the antioxidant system of cells, to early control reactive oxygen species production and oxidative damage in shrimp.     

Mitochondrial uncoupling proteins in unicellular eukaryotes

Uncoupling proteins (UCPs) are members of the mitochondrial anion carrier protein family that are present in the mitochondrial inner membrane and mediate free fatty acid (FFA)-activated, purine nucleotide (PN)-inhibited proton conductance. Since 1999, the presence of UCPs has been demonstrated in some non-photosynthesising unicellular eukaryotes, including amoeboid and parasite protists, as well as in non-fermentative yeast and filamentous fungi. In the mitochondria of these organisms, UCP activity is revealed upon FFA-induced, PN-inhibited stimulation of resting respiration and a decrease in membrane potential, which are accompanied by a decrease in membranous ubiquinone (Q) reduction level. UCPs in unicellular eukaryotes are able to divert energy from oxidative phosphorylation and thus compete for a proton electrochemical gradient with ATP synthase. Our recent work indicates that membranous Q is a metabolic sensor that might utilise its redox state to release the PN inhibition of UCP-mediated mitochondrial uncoupling under conditions of phosphorylation and resting respiration. The action of reduced Q (QH₂) could allow higher or complete activation of UCP. As this regulatory feature was demonstrated for microorganism UCPs (A. castellanii UCP), plant and mammalian UCP1 analogues, and UCP1 in brown adipose tissue, the process could involve all UCPs. Here, we discuss the functional connection and physiological role of UCP and alternative oxidase, two main energy-dissipating systems in the plant-type mitochondrial respiratory chain of unicellular eukaryotes, including the control of cellular energy balance as well as preventive action against the production of reactive oxygen species.     

Mitochondrial proton leak: a role for uncoupling proteins 2 and 3?

In mitochondria ATP synthesis is not perfectly coupled to oxygen consumption due to proton leak across the mitochondrial inner membrane. Quantitative studies have shown that proton leak contributes to approximately 25% of the resting oxygen consumption of mammals. Proton leak plays a role in accounting for differences in basal metabolic rate. Thyroid studies, body mass studies, phylogenic studies and obesity studies have all shown that increased mass-specific metabolic rate is linked to increased mitochondrial proton leak. The mechanism of the proton leak is unclear. Evidence suggests that proton leak occurs by a non-specific diffusion process across the mitochondrial inner membrane. However, the high degree of sequence homology of the recently cloned uncoupling proteins UCP 2 and UCP 3 to brown adipose tissue UCP 1, and their extensive tissue distribution, suggest that these novel uncoupling proteins play a role in proton leak. Early indications from reconstitution experiments and several in vitro expression studies suggest that the novel uncoupling proteins uncouple mitochondria. Furthermore, mice overexpressing UCP 3 certainly show a phenotype consistent with increased metabolism. The evidence for a role for these novel UCPs in mitochondrial proton leak is reviewed.     

Mitochondrial UCPs: new insights into regulation and impact

Uncoupling proteins (UCPs) are mitochondrial inner membrane proteins sustaining an inducible proton conductance. They weaken the proton electrochemical gradient built up by the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Brown fat UCP1 sustains a free fatty acid (FA)-induced purine nucleotide (PN)-inhibited proton conductance. Inhibition of the proton conductance by PN has been considered as a diagnostic of UCP activity. However, conflicting results have been obtained in isolated mitochondria for UCP homologues (i.e., UCP2, UCP3, plant UCP, and protist UCP) where the FFA-activated proton conductance is poorly sensitive to PN under resting respiration conditions. Our recent work clearly indicates that the membranous coenzyme Q, through its redox state, represents a regulator of the inhibition by PN of FFA-activated UCP1 homologues under phosphorylating respiration conditions. Several physiological roles of UCPs have been suggested, including a control of the cellular energy balance as well as the preventive action against oxidative stress. In this paper, we discuss new information emerging from comparative proteomics about the impact of UCPs on mitochondrial physiology, when recombinant UCP1 is expressed in yeast and when UCP2 is over-expressed in hepatic mitochondria during steatosis.     

A signalling role for 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal in regulation of mitochondrial uncoupling

Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are associated with disease and aging. Oxidative stress results from overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), often leading to peroxidation of membrane phospholipids and production of reactive aldehydes, particularly 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal. Mild uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation protects by decreasing mitochondrial ROS production. We find that hydroxynonenal and structurally related compounds (such as trans-retinoic acid, trans-retinal and other 2-alkenals) specifically induce uncoupling of mitochondria through the uncoupling proteins UCP1, UCP2 and UCP3 and the adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT). Hydroxynonenal-induced uncoupling was inhibited by potent inhibitors of ANT (carboxyatractylate and bongkrekate) and UCP (GDP). The GDP-sensitive proton conductance induced by hydroxynonenal correlated with tissue expression of UCPs, appeared in yeast mitochondria expressing UCP1 and was absent in skeletal muscle mitochondria from UCP3 knockout mice. The carboxyatractylate-sensitive hydroxynonenal stimulation correlated with ANT content in mitochondria from Drosophila melanogaster expressing different amounts of ANT. Our findings indicate that hydroxynonenal is not merely toxic, but may be a biological signal to induce uncoupling through UCPs and ANT and thus decrease mitochondrial ROS production.     

The conserved regulation of mitochondrial uncoupling proteins: From unicellular eukaryotes to mammals

Uncoupling proteins (UCPs) belong to the mitochondrial anion carrier protein family and mediate regulated proton leak across the inner mitochondrial membrane. Free fatty acids, aldehydes such as hydroxynonenal, and retinoids activate UCPs. However, there are some controversies about the effective action of retinoids and aldehydes alone; thus, only free fatty acids are commonly accepted positive effectors of UCPs. Purine nucleotides such as GTP inhibit UCP-mediated mitochondrial proton leak. In turn, membranous coenzyme Q may play a role as a redox state-dependent metabolic sensor that modulates the complete activation/inhibition of UCPs. Such regulation has been observed for UCPs in microorganisms, plant and animal UCP1 homologues, and UCP1 in mammalian brown adipose tissue. The origin of UCPs is still under debate, but UCP homologues have been identified in all systematic groups of eukaryotes. Despite the differing levels of amino acid/DNA sequence similarities, functional studies in unicellular and multicellular organisms, from amoebae to mammals, suggest that the mechanistic regulation of UCP activity is evolutionarily well conserved. This review focuses on the regulatory feedback loops of UCPs involving free fatty acids, aldehydes, retinoids, purine nucleotides, and coenzyme Q (particularly its reduction level), which may derive from the early stages of evolution as UCP first emerged.     

No evidence for a basal,retinoic, or superoxide-induced uncoupling activity of the uncoupling protein 2 present in spleen or lung mitochondria

The phenotypes observed in mice whose uncoupling protein (Ucp2) gene had been invalidated by homologous recombination (Ucp2(-/-) mice) are consistent with an increase in mitochondrial membrane potential in macrophages and pancreatic beta cells. This could support an uncoupling (proton transport) activity of UCP2 in the inner mitochondrial membrane in vivo. We used mitochondria from lung or spleen, the two organs expressing the highest level of UCP2, to compare the proton leak of the mitochondrial inner membrane of wild-type and Ucp2(-/-) mice. No difference was observed under basal conditions. Previous reports have concluded that retinoic acid and superoxide activate proton transport by UCP2. Spleen mitochondria showed a higher sensitivity to retinoic acid than liver mitochondria, but this was not caused by UCP2. In contrast with a previous report, superoxide failed to increase the proton leak rate in kidney mitochondria, where no UCP2 expression was detected, and also in spleen mitochondria, which does not support stimulation of UCP2 uncoupling activity by superoxide. Finally, no increase in the ATP/ADP ratio was observed in spleen or lung of Ucp2(-/-) mice. Therefore, no evidence could be gathered for the uncoupling activity of the UCP2 present in spleen or lung mitochondria. Although this may be explained by difficulties with isolated mitochondria, it may also indicate that UCP2 has another physiological significance in spleen and lung.     

Mitochondrial uncoupling proteins--facts and fantasies

Instead of a comprehensive review, we describe the basic undisputed facts and a modest contribution of our group to the fascinating area of the research on mitochondrial uncoupling proteins. After defining the terms uncoupling, leak, protein-mediated uncoupling, we discuss the assumption that due to their low abundance the novel mitochondrial uncoupling proteins (UCP2 to UCP5) can provide only a mild uncoupling, i.e. can decrease the proton motive force by several mV only. Contrary to this, the highly thermogenic role of UCP1 in brown adipose tissue is not given only by its high content (approximately 5 % of mitochondrial proteins) but also by the low ATP synthase content and high capacity respiratory chain. Fatty acid cycling mechanism as a plausible explanation for the protonophoretic function of all UCPs and some other mitochondrial carriers is described together with the experiments supporting it. The phylogenesis of all UCPs, estimated UCP2 content in several tissues, and details of UCP2 activation are described on the basis of our experiments. Functional activation of UCP2 is proposed to decrease reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Moreover, reaction products of lipoperoxidation such as cleaved hydroperoxy-fatty acids and hydroxy-fatty acid can activate UCP2 and promote feedback down-regulation of mitochondrial ROS production.