Limited proteolysis reveals conformational changes in uncoupling protein-1 from brown adipose tissue mitochondria

Limited proteolytic digestion of uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1) from hamster brown adipose tissue mitochondria was studied. Under optimal conditions, trypsin and chymotrypsin cleave at Lys-292 and at Phe-102, yielding major products 31-kDa T1 and 22-kDa Ch1. Both T1 and Ch1 remained dimers, as in UCP1. Using fluorescent nucleotide derivative 2'-O-dansyl GTP, it is shown that T1 retains the nucleotide binding affinity (K(D)=1 microM for dansyl GTP) while Ch1 does not bind nucleotide. Previously kinetic binding and H(+) transport studies [Biochemistry 35 (1996) 7846] have shown that UCP1 forms tight complexes to varying degrees with nucleotides and their derivatives. Nucleotides strongly protect against tryptic digestion but less against chymotryptic digestion, because the chymotryptic product Ch1 does not bind nucleotide. The nucleotides and derivatives show the same potency profile in protecting against both trypsinolysis and chymotryptic digestion, suggesting that UCP1 undergoes a major conformational change upon nucleotide binding from an initial loose complex into a tight complex, in which the cleavage sites become masked from proteolysis.     

Reconstitution of the uncoupling protein of brown adipose tissue mitochondria. Demonstration of GDP-sensitive halide anion uniport

The fluorescent anion indicator 6-methoxy-N-(3-sulfopropyl)quinolinium was trapped in proteoliposomes reconstituted with purified 32-kDa uncoupling protein and used to detect GDP-sensitive uniports of Cl-, Br-, and I-. Transport of these halide anions was rapid and potential-dependent. F- and nitrate were found to inhibit Cl- uptake competitively, suggesting that these anions are also substrates for transport. This preparation also exhibited H+(OH-) transport, showing that the reconstituted uncoupling protein possesses both halide and H+ transport functions, as is observed in intact brown adipose tissue mitochondria. Cl- transport was inhibited to the residual level observed in liposomes without protein when GDP was present on both sides of the membrane. Cl- transport was inhibited by about 50% when GDP was present only on one side of the membrane. We infer that uncoupling protein reconstitutes into proteoliposomes with a 1:1 ratio of sidedness orientation. The Km values for Cl- uniport were 100 and 65 mM, respectively, in GDP-loaded and non-GDP-loaded vesicles. Participation of the inner membrane anion channel in the observed transport is rendered unlikely by the fact that this carrier is insensitive to GDP. A variety of additional experiments probing for inner membrane anion channel yielded uniformly negative results, confirming the absence of contamination by this protein. Our results therefore demonstrate that the uncoupling protein mediates anion translocation, a function previously reported as lacking in the reconstituted system.     

New insights into mechanisms of anion uniport through the uncoupling protein of brown adipose tissue mitochondria.

GDP-sensitive Cl- uniport is a widely studied property of the uncoupling protein of brown adipose tissue mitochondria; nevertheless, little is known about its mechanism and there is even controversy over whether this protein transports Cl-. Using a fluorescent probe assay, we have demonstrated non-ohmic, electrophoretic, GDP-sensitive Cl- uniport into proteoliposomes reconstituted with purified uncoupler protein. We have also identified a large number of new anionic substrates for this porter that also inhibit Cl- uniport competitively. Anion transport, its inhibition by GDP and anion inhibition of Cl- uniport are all strongly dependent on anion hydrophobicity. These surprising results are consequential for hypotheses of common transport mechanisms in the gene family of mitochondrial anion porters.     

Sulfhydryl groups are involved in H+ translocation via the uncoupling protein of brown adipose tissue mitochondria

Mersalyl inhibits H+ transport via the uncoupling protein (UP) in brown adipose tissue (BAT) mitochondria estimated as swelling in potassium acetate (Ki 67 microM) or as valinomycin-induced H+ extrusion in K2SO4 (Ki 55 microM) and KCl. The swelling in KCl is depressed only slightly. Some other SH-reagents (p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) and thiolyte DB), but not hydrophobic reagents (N-ethylmaleimide and eosin-5-maleimide), exhibit analogous inhibition. Thus an essential SH-group localized at the water-accessible cytosolic surface of UP was found to be involved in H+ transport via UP but not in Cl- transport.     

Cold-induced alterations of phospholipid fatty acyl composition in brown adipose tissue mitochondria are independent of uncoupling protein-1

The recruitment process induced by acclimation of mammals to cold includes a marked alteration in the acyl composition of the phospholipids of mitochondria from brown adipose tissue: increases in 18:0, 18:2(n-6), and 20:4(n-6) and decreases in 16:0, 16:1, 18:1, and 22:6(n-3). A basic question is whether these alterations are caused by changes in the concentration of uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1) or the thermogenesis it mediates-implying that they are secondary effects-or whether they are an integrated, independent part of the recruitment process. This question was addressed here using wild-type and UCP1-ablated C57BL/6 mice acclimated to 24 degrees C or 4 degrees C. In wild-type mice, the phospholipid fatty acyl composition of mitochondria from brown adipose tissue showed the changes in response to cold that were expected from observations in other species and strains. The changes were specific, as different changes occurred in skeletal muscle mitochondria. In UCP1-ablated mice, cold acclimation induced acyl alterations in brown adipose tissue that were qualitatively identical and quantitatively similar to those in wild-type mice. Therefore, neither the increased content of UCP1 nor mitochondrial uncoupling altered the effect of cold on acyl composition. Cold acclimation in wild-type mice had little effect on phospholipid acyl composition in muscle mitochondria, but cold-acclimation in UCP1-ablated mice caused significant alterations, probably due to sustained shivering. Thus, the alterations in brown adipose tissue phospholipid acyl composition are revealed to be an independent part of the recruitment process, and their functional significance for thermogenesis should be elucidated.     

Chronic intraparaventricular nuclear administration of orexin A in male rats does not alter thyroid axis or uncoupling protein-1 in brown adipose tissue

Orexin A, synthesised in the posterolateral hypothalamus, has widespread distribution including the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), which is rich in thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) neurones. Nerve fibres in the PVN synapse on neurones that send polysynaptic projections to brown adipose tissue (BAT), which is important in thermogenesis. A number of observations suggests orexin A may be involved in regulation of metabolism and thermogenesis. We investigated the effect of orexin A injected intracerebroventricularly (ICV) on thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid hormones in male rats. We then examined the effect of chronic iPVN injections of orexin A on plasma TSH and uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1) protein in BAT. Orexin A (3 nmol) administered ICV significantly suppressed plasma TSH at 10 and 90 min. Orexin A (0.3 nmol) administered into the PVN twice daily for 3 days significantly increased day-time 2-h food intake, but did not significantly alter nocturnal food intake. Though chronic iPVN orexin A altered diurnal food intake, there was no effect on 24-h food intake or body weight. Furthermore, orexin A administered chronically into the PVN did not alter UCP-1 level in BAT, or plasma hormones relative to saline injected animals. Chronic iPVN orexin A does not appear to influence thermogenesis through activation of UCP-1 or the thyroid axis.     

Stress-induced hyperthermia is not mediated by brown adipose tissue in mice

Psychological stress leads to sympathetically mediated increases in body temperature. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is often thought to be the main organ to produce heat in response to sympathetic activation. However, we have previously shown that the hyperthermia evoked by conditioned fear in rats is not the result of thermogenesis in the interscapular area of the back, where the largest deposit of BAT is found. Stress-induced hyperthermia is widely used as an anxiety indicator in mice. We thus sought to verify if this response can be attributed to BAT thermogenesis. Eight C57BL/6 mice were shaved in the interscapular and lumbar back areas prior to testing. Animals received injections of 20 mg/kg dl-propranolol or saline and were placed in either an open field or 4 °C enclosure for 30 min. Infrared thermographic images were taken each minute to record interscapular, lumbar and tail skin temperatures. Propranolol reduced the stress-induced hyperthermia observed during open field exposure (p<0.01), as indicated by the lumbar back skin temperature. Nevertheless, the difference between interscapular and lumbar skin temperatures remained constant, suggesting that this hyperthermia was not caused by BAT thermogenesis. There was no observable effect of propranolol on behavior, as animals remained active throughout the test. In contrast, the difference between interscapular and lumbar back skin temperature was increased by 2 °C during cold exposure. This increase was abolished after propranolol (p<0.001), indicating BAT thermogenesis during this challenge. Hence, just as rats exposed to conditioned fear, mice exposed to an open field display a stress-induced hyperthermia that is not caused by BAT thermogenesis.     

Fatty acid activation of the reconstituted brown adipose tissue mitochondria uncoupling protein

The effect of fatty acids, palmitoyl-CoA, and N',N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide on the ion conductance of the reconstituted brown adipose tissue mitochondria uncoupling protein was investigated. 1, 5, and 10 microM palmitic acid induced a specific, GDP inhibited, increase in proton conductance in proteoliposomes containing the uncoupling protein but not in proteoliposomes prepared with purified protein extracts of liver mitochondria. 10 microM oleic acid, like palmitic acid, increased proton conductance in proteoliposomes prepared with the uncoupling protein. Palmitoyl-CoA and caprylic acid had no effect on increasing proton conductance. Similar to the observation in mitochondria, there was no effect of palmitic acid on Cl-conductance, but unlike mitochondria its activation by palmitoyl-CoA or inhibition by N',N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide was lost. The results, obtained in an isolated system, provide support for the contention that long chain fatty acids act as an acute physiological activator of the uncoupling protein.     

An immunological study of the uncoupling protein of brown adipose tissue mitochondria

1. Ewes were injected with purified 32,000-Mr uncoupling protein from mitochondria of brown adipose tissue of cold-adapted rats in order to raise antibodies. 2. The existence of antibodies in the plasma of ewes and the cross-reactivity of plasmas were demonstrated and studied by 125I-labelled antigen-antibody reaction, double immunodiffusion, the inhibition of GDP binding to the 32,000 Mr protein and by immunohistochemistry. 3. The antibodies raised against the homogeneous protein yielded a single immunoprecipitation band with detergent-solubilized mitochondrial membranes of brown adipose tissue from rat, hamster, guinea-pig, rabbit and with the purified uncoupling protein of these animals. No immunoprecipitation was obtained with the protein purified from brown adipose tissue of term lamb foetus. 4. The GDP-binding activity of the uncoupling protein (isolated or in solubilized membranes) was largely inhibited by the antiserum. 5. The anti-(rat uncoupling protein) could not cross-react with solubilized membranes from liver or muscle, nor with the purified beef heart or rat liver ADP/ATP translocator.     

Binding of fatty acids to the uncoupling protein from brown adipose tissue mitochondria

The uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) is a H(+) carrier which plays a key role in heat generation in brown adipose tissue. The H(+) transport activity of UCP1 is activated by long-chain fatty acids and inhibited by purine nucleotides. While nucleotide binding has been well characterized, the interaction of fatty acid with UCP1 remains unknown. Here I demonstrate the binding of fatty acids by competition with a fluorescent nucleotide probe 2(')-O-dansyl guanosine 5(')-triphosphate (GTP), which has been shown previously to bind at the nucleotide binding site in UCP1. Fatty acids but not their esters competitively inhibit the binding of 2(')-O-dansyl GTP to UCP1. The fatty acid effect was enhanced at higher pH, suggesting the binding of fatty acid anion to UCP1. The inhibition constants K(i) were determined by fluorescence titrations for various fatty acids. Short-chain (C<8) fatty acids display no affinity, whereas medium-chain (C10-14) and unsaturated C18 fatty acids exhibit stronger affinity (K(i)=65 microM, for elaidic acid). This specificity profile agrees with previous functional data obtained in both proteoliposomes and mitochondria, suggesting a possible physiological role of this fatty acid binding site.     

Postnatal appearance of uncoupling protein and formation of thermogenic mitochondria in hamster brown adipose tissue

Brown adipose tissue of developing hamster was characterized by western blotting, enzyme activity measurements and immunoelectron microscopy. During the first postnatal week the tissue contained significant amounts of differentiating mitochondria and comparable quantities of active cytochrome oxidase and ATP synthase. The uncoupling protein appeared on the 7/8th day and its specific content increased 80-times between day 8 and day 17. In parallel, the specific content and activity of cytochrome oxidase increased 3-times but ATP synthase decreased 2-times. The total content of uncoupling protein and of cytochrome oxidase in interscapular brown adipose tissue increased 360- and 11-times, respectively. Analysis of isolated mitochondria showed that the observed differences result mainly from changes of the enzymic equipment of the mitochondrial membrane. During the same interval, propylthiouracil-insensitive "type II' thyroxine 5'-deiodinase activity in brown adipose tissue increased 10-times. It was concluded that the thermogenic function of the hamster brown adipose tissue develops after the first postnatal week due to highly differentiated synthesis of mitochondrial proteins leading to replacement of preexisting, uncoupling protein-lacking nonthermogenic mitochondria by thermogenic ones, similarly as shown in brown adipose tissue of the embryonic mouse and rat (Houst?k, J., et al. (1988) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 935, 19-25).     

Regulation of the uncoupling protein in brown adipose tissue

Presumptive evidence suggests that the brown fat mitochondrial uncoupling protein, thermogenin, is involved in the mechanism of stimulation of respiration by norepinephrine in the intact tissue. Conflicting data have been reported which suggest involvement of either adenine nucleotides, or fatty acids, or long chain acyl-CoA, or protons in the physiological regulation. We measured the electrical potential gradient across the mitochondrial membrane (delta psi m) in control cells and in cells stimulated with norepinephrine, using the accumulation of lipophilic cation, tetraphenylphosphonium, as an indicator of the potential gradient. The value of delta psi m in the cells in the control state is 116 mV, and in the hormonally stimulated state it is 56.6 mV. This supports the view that the protein is involved in the mechanism of hormone action. Other studies were designed to distinguish between the effects of fatty acids and ATP levels on the uncoupling protein in isolated mitochondria and in the adipocytes. ATP levels and fatty acid levels inside intact cells were independently varied using oligomycin or external fatty acids. Their effect on thermogenin was monitored as the capacity of the cells for reverse electron transport from durohydroquinone. The results suggest that ATP modulates the activity of thermogenin, while fatty acids can alter the relationship between ATP and thermogenin activity such that the protein appears to be activated at a higher cellular ATP level in the presence of fatty acids than in their absence.     

Generation of hydrogen peroxide by brown adipose tissue mitochondria

This is the first report on the generation of H₂O₂ by brown adipose tissue mitochondria. Flavin dehydrogenase-linked substrates like succinate, glycerol-1-phosphate, and fatty acyl CoA were good substrates for the reaction, while NAD⁺-linked substrates were less effective. In cold-acclimated animals the activity showed a substantial increase (2.5-fold). TheK_m andV_max of the reaction were considerably lower than those of the respective dehydrogenase. Metal ions, particularly Cu²⁺ and Fe²⁺ were potent inhibitors of the reaction. Nucleoside diphosphates, which were inhibitors by themselves, potentiated the inhibitory action of Fe²⁺ ions. In most of the properties, the H₂O₂ generator of brown adipose tissue mitochondria resembled that of liver mitochondria.     

Unmasking of GDP binding sites on hamster brown adipose tissue mitochondria and uncoupling protein.

1. A rapid unmasking of GDP binding sites on brown adipose tissue (BAT) mitochondria was observed when hamsters acclimatized to 28 degrees C were exposed to a temperature of 4 degrees C for 2 hr. 2. No rapid unmasking of GDP binding sites was observed when hamsters housed at 22 degrees C were briefly exposed to 4 degrees C. 3. The amount of GDP bound to BAT mitochondria from hamsters increased during 2 weeks of exposure to 4 degrees C, but did not change between 2 weeks and 30 days of cold exposure. 4. Incubation of mitochondria with 10 mM Mg2+ prior to the GDP binding assay increased the subsequent GDP binding to BAT mitochondria from hamsters housed at 28, 22 or 4 degrees C, albeit to different degrees. 5. The amount of GDP bound to uncoupling proteins isolated from untreated and Mg(2+)-treated mitochondria of hamsters and rats was measured. Scatchard analyses of the binding of GDP to purified uncoupling protein indicate that increases in the number of binding sites due to Mg2+ treatment of mitochondria do not change the affinity of the protein for GDP.     

Absence of UCP3 in brown adipose tissue does not impair nonshivering thermogenesis

We report on a novel Djungarian hamster mutant lineage that exhibits a loss of uncoupling protein (UCP) 3 mRNA and protein in brown adipose tissue (BAT), whereas UCP3 expression in skeletal muscle is only mildly diminished. In response to 2 d of cold exposure, UCP3 mRNA was 4.5-fold elevated in BAT of wild-type hamsters but remained undetectable in mutant hamsters. Notably, in BAT of warm- and cold-exposed mutant hamsters, UCP1 and UCP2 mRNA levels were increased. The tissue specificity of UCP3 deficiency suggests that the underlying unknown mutation impairs a factor controlling UCP3 gene expression selectively in brown adipocytes. In wild-type but not mutant primary brown adipocytes, UCP3 gene expression was stimulated by treatment with peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) ligands. This implies that the underlying mutation causing UCP3 deficiency is expressed within brown adipocytes and disrupts PPAR-dependent transactivation of the UCP3 gene. On the functional level, we found no direct phenotypic consequences of altered UCP expression in BAT. The absence of UCP3 in BAT of cold-acclimated mutant hamsters affected neither maximal nonshivering thermogenesis elicited by noradrenaline nor the uncoupled respiration of isolated mitochondria in the presence of oligomycin and in response to palmitate.     

Selective loss of uncoupling protein from mitochondria of surgically denervated brown adipose tissue of cold-acclimated mice

The effects of unilateral surgical denervation on brown adipose tissue (BAT) composition were evaluated to assess the importance of the sympathetic innervation in the maintenance of a high concentration of the uncoupling protein thermogenin in cold-acclimated (CA) mice and to assess whether suppression of neural activity could account for BAT atrophy observed during fasting or when CA mice are returned to a thermoneutral environment (33 degrees C). Denervation-induced BAT atrophy was characterized by protein and thermogenin losses in absence of changes in the tissue cellularity (DNA content). There was a marked reduction in the concentration of thermogenin in mitochondria isolated from denervated BAT, but the concentration of the adenine nucleotide translocator was unchanged. Fasting or exposure of CA mice to 33 degrees C induced a rapid and extensive loss of tissue protein from both innervated and denervated BAT. In CA mice exposed to 33 degrees C, there was also reduction in tissue cellularity and loss of thermogenin from BAT mitochondria. Since surgical denervation suppressed BAT hyperplasia and the increase in the mitochondrial concentration of thermogenin observed during cold exposure, these results indicate that an intact innervation is required for both synthesis and maintenance of a high mitochondrial content of thermogenin in CA mice. In addition, the lesser changes in tissue composition caused by denervation compared with those caused by fasting or exposure of CA mice to 33 degrees C question the importance of the suppression of neural activity as the exclusive cause of rapid BAT atrophy in mice.     

Measurement of brown adipose tissue uncoupling protein by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay

Antibody to uncoupling protein (UCP) purified from rat brown adipose tissue (BAT) was raised in rabbits and an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was developed. The antiserum did not cross-react with other mitochondrial proteins from BAT and from other tissues but cross-reacted with UCP from hamster, guinea pig and mouse. The assay is capable of detecting 5 ng of UCP. Using this assay and a crude mitochondrial preparation, UCP content of BAT was shown to increase during cold adaptation.     

Sulfhydryl groups of the uncoupling protein of brown adipose tissue mitochondria. Distinction between sulfhydryl groups of the H+ channel and the nucleotide binding site

Mersalyl, 5,5'-dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoate) (Nbs2) and fluorescent Thiolyte DB react with SH groups in the H+ channel (SHc) of the uncoupling protein of brown adipose tissue mitochondria, as inferred from their inhibition of H+ transport. Cl- transport by the uncoupling protein was unaffected. Using these modifiers and N-ethylmaleimide (MalNEt), distinct SH groups (SHB) in the purine nucleotide binding site were identified. Nbs2 reacts more readily with the SHB than with the SHc groups, but mersalyl and Thiolyte DB are more reactive with the SHc groups. MalNEt reacts exclusively with the SHB. GDP inhibition is fully prevented after sufficient modification of the SHB. Pretreatment with p-diazobenzenesulfonate (N2PhSO2) suppresses only 20-25% of fluorescence of Thiolyte-DB-labeled uncoupling protein on SDS/PAGE gels, while MalNEt suppresses 66% and Nbs2 80-90%. Since N2PhSO2 also affects the GDP binding site, these results demonstrate that the N2PhSO2-reactive residue is not identical with the SHB.