Comparative study on uncoupling effects of laurate and lauryl sulfate on rat liver and skeletal muscle mitochondria

Uncoupling effects of laurate and lauryl sulfate have been studied in the isolated rat liver and skeletal muscle mitochondria. In the oligomycin-treated liver mitochondria, 0.02 mM laurate or 0.16 mM lauryl sulfate caused a two-fold stimulation of respiration, accompanied by a membrane potential decrease. Carboxyatractylate (CAtr) and glutamate (or aspartate) strongly decrease the effect of laurate and lauryl sulfate on respiratory rate and membrane potential (the recoupling effect). With both uncouplers, this effect is maximal for CAtr and glutamate (aspartate) at pH 7.8 and 7.0, respectively. Tetraphenyl phosphonium cations, which decrease negative membrane charges, cause an alkaline shift of these pH dependences. Small amounts of lauryl sulfate, which increase the membrane negative charge, induce the opposite shift when laurate is used as an uncoupler. ADP, but not GDP, partially recouple with both laurate and lauryl sulfate. We conclude that lauryl sulfate-induced uncoupling in rat liver, like the uncoupling induced by laurate, is mediated by the ATP/ ADP and glutamate/aspartate antiporters. In skeletal muscle mitochondria uncoupled by laurate, 200 microM GDP causes partial recoupling which can be enhanced by a subsequent additions of CAtr, glutamate and serum albumin. CAtr added before GDP promotes a larger recoupling than when added after GDP and prevents the subsequent effect of GDP. ADP is effective as recoupler at lower concentrations that GDP, whereas CDP is without influence. Lauryl sulfate uncoupling of skeletal muscle mitochondria is GDP-resistant but is sensitive to ADP, CAtr, glutamate and serum albumin. Our data suggest that in skeletal muscle mitochondria a GDP-sensitive mechanism is involved in uncoupling induced by laurate. This mechanism is absent in liver mitochondria. Possible mechanisms of laurate and lauryl sulfate-induced uncoupling are discussed.     

Cold exposure differently influences mitochondrial energy efficiency in rat liver and skeletal muscle

This study deals with mitochondrial energy efficiency in liver and skeletal muscle mitochondria in 15 days cold exposed rats. Cold exposure strongly increases the sensitivity to uncoupling by added palmitate of skeletal muscle but not liver mitochondria, while mitochondrial energy coupling in the absence of fatty acids is only slightly affected by cold in liver and skeletal muscle. In addition, uncoupling protein 3 content does not follow changes in skeletal muscle mitochondrial coupling. It is therefore concluded that skeletal muscle could play a direct thermogenic role based on fatty acid-induced mild uncoupling of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation.     

Stimulation of mitochondrial proton conductance by hydroxynonenal requires a high membrane potential

Mild uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation, caused by a leak of protons back into the matrix, limits mitochondrial production of ROS (reactive oxygen species). This proton leak can be induced by the lipid peroxidation products of ROS, such as HNE (4-hydroxynonenal). HNE activates uncoupling proteins (UCP1, UCP2 and UCP3) and ANT (adenine nucleotide translocase), thereby providing a negative feedback loop. The mechanism of activation and the conditions necessary to induce uncoupling by HNE are unclear. We have found that activation of proton leak by HNE in rat and mouse skeletal muscle mitochondria is dependent on incubation with respiratory substrate. In the presence of HNE, mitochondria energized with succinate became progressively more leaky to protons over time compared with mitochondria in the absence of either HNE or succinate. Energized mitochondria must attain a high membrane potential to allow HNE to activate uncoupling: a drop of 10-20 mV from the resting value is sufficient to blunt induction of proton leak by HNE. Uncoupling occurs through UCP3 (11%), ANT (64%) and other pathways (25%). Our findings have shown that exogenous HNE only activates uncoupling at high membrane potential. These results suggest that both endogenous HNE production and high membrane potential are required before mild uncoupling will be triggered to attenuate mitochondrial ROS production.     

Metabolic Changes Induced by Cold Stress in Rat Liver Mitochondria

The mechanisms involved in the metabolic changes induced by cold stress in isolated rat liver mitochondria were studied. Respiration, ATP synthesis, and membrane potential as well as the contents of several metabolites were determined in liver mitochondria from cold-exposed rats. At different times of cold exposure, the force-flux relationships showed net variation in flux (enhanced respiration, diminished ATP synthesis) with no associated variation in force (H+ gradient); this suggested that decoupling rather than classical uncoupling was involved in the effects of cold stress. The flux control coefficient of the H+ leak on basal respiration was slightly increased by 380 h of cold exposure. Cold stress also induced a diminution in total membrane fatty acids, Zn2+, Fe3+, ATP, and ADP/O ratios; the content of cytochromes c + c1 and b oscillated. The contents of Ca2+, Na+, Pi, and cytochromes a + a3 were not affected, whereas matrix ADP, AMP, K+, and Mg2+ were markedly increased. Basal and oleic acid-stimulated respiration of mitochondria from cold-stressed rats was inhibited by GDP, carboxyatractyloside, or albumin. These agents did not affect basal respiration in control mitochondria. Western blot analysis showed enhanced expression of a protein of about 35 kDa, presumably the uncoupling protein 2, induced by long-term cold exposure. The overall data suggest that cold stress promoted decoupling of oxidative phosphorylation, and hence, changes in several matrix metabolites, by increasing free fatty acids and the UCP2 content.     

Existence of uncoupling protein-2 antigen in isolated mitochondria from various tissues.

Antibodies against Escherichia coli-expressed uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2) and uncoupling protein-3 (UCP3) were raised by operating the blotted proteins into the spleen of minipigs. The antisera reacted more intensively with the recombinant UCP2 and UCP3 than with uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1) isolated from brown adipose tissue. Moreover, anti-UCP2 and cross-reacting anti-UCP3 antibodies identified the presence of the UCP2/3 antigen in isolated mitochondria from rat heart, rat kidney, rat brain, rabbit epididymal white adipose tissue, hamster brown adipose tissue, and rabbit skeletal muscle. It has been concluded that UCP2 is expressed in these tissues (UCP3 in skeletal muscle); however their existence in mitochondria had not previously been demonstrated.     

Uncoupling Protein 3: Its Possible Biological Role and Mode of Regulation in Rodents and Humans

The recently discovered uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) is highly homologous to the mitochondrialinner membrane protein UCP1, which generates heat by uncoupling the respiratory chainfrom oxidative phosphorylation. The thermogenic function of UCP1 protects against cold andregulates the energy balance in rodents. We review in vitro studies investigating the uncouplingactivity of UCP3 and in vivo studies, which address UCP3 gene expression in brown adiposetissue and skeletal muscle under various metabolic conditions. The data presented are, for themost, consistent with an uncoupling role for UCP3 in regulatory thermogenesis. We alsodiscuss mediators of UCP3 regulation and propose a potential role for intracellular fatty acidsin the mechanism of UCP3 modulation. Finally, we hypothesize a role for UCP3 in themetabolic adaptation of the mitochondria to the degradation of fatty acids.     

Energization-dependent endogenous activation of proton conductance in skeletal muscle mitochondria

Leak of protons into the mitochondrial matrix during substrate oxidation partially uncouples electron transport from phosphorylation of ADP, but the functions and source of basal and inducible proton leak in vivo remain controversial. In the present study we describe an endogenous activation of proton conductance in mitochondria isolated from rat and mouse skeletal muscle following addition of respiratory substrate. This endogenous activation increased with time, required a high membrane potential and was diminished by high concentrations of serum albumin. Inhibition of this endogenous activation by GDP [classically considered specific for UCPs (uncoupling proteins)], carboxyatractylate and bongkrekate (considered specific for the adenine nucleotide translocase) was examined in skeletal muscle mitochondria from wild-type and Ucp3-knockout mice. Proton conductance through endogenously activated UCP3 was calculated as the difference in leak between mitochondria from wild-type and Ucp3-knockout mice, and was found to be inhibited by carboxyatractylate and bongkrekate, but not GDP. Proton conductance in mitochondria from Ucp3-knockout mice was strongly inhibited by carboxyatractylate, bongkrekate and partially by GDP. We conclude the following: (i) at high protonmotive force, an endogenously generated activator stimulates proton conductance catalysed partly by UCP3 and partly by the adenine nucleotide translocase; (ii) GDP is not a specific inhibitor of UCP3, but also inhibits proton translocation by the adenine nucleotide translocase; and (iii) the inhibition of UCP3 by carboxyatractylate and bongkrekate is likely to be indirect, acting through the adenine nucleotide translocase.     

Properties of the human long and short isoforms of the uncoupling protein-3 expressed in yeast cells

Two splice variants of the human uncoupling protein-3 (UCP3L and UCP3S) are highly expressed in skeletal muscle. The properties of UCP3L and S have been compared to those of UCP1 in a heterologous yeast expression system under the control of the galactose promoter. Both UCP3 isoforms were found to strongly impair the coupling efficiency of respiring cells thus resulting in increased thermogenesis. The uncoupling properties of both UCP3L and S could be clearly demonstrated also in isolated yeast mitochondria both in terms of coupled respiration and in the capacity to polarize the inner membrane in conditions of limited substrate availability. Contrary to what was observed with mitochondria containing UCP1, millimolar GDP and ATP had little if any effect on the uncoupling activity of UCP3. A very marked uncoupling of whole cells and isolated mitochondria was observed at very low expression levels of UCP3S indicating that the short isoform is more active than the long one.     

Cold-induced mitochondrial uncoupling and expression of chicken UCP and ANT mRNA in chicken skeletal muscle

Although bird species studied thus far have no distinct brown adipose tissue (BAT) or a related thermogenic tissue, there is now strong evidence that non-shivering mechanisms in birds may play an important role during cold exposure. Recently, increased expression of the duckling homolog of the avian uncoupling protein (avUCP) was demonstrated in cold-acclimated ducklings [Raimbault et al., Biochem. J. 353 (2001) 441-444]. Among the mitochondrial anion carriers, roles for the ATP/ADP antiporter (ANT) as well as UCP variants in thermogenesis are proposed. The present experiments were conducted (i) to examine the effects of cold acclimation on the fatty acid-induced uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation in skeletal muscle mitochondria and (ii) to clone the cDNA of UCP and ANT homologs from chicken skeletal muscle and study differences compared to controls in expression levels of their mRNAs in the skeletal muscle of cold-acclimated chickens. The results obtained here show that suppression of palmitate-induced uncoupling by carboxyatractylate was greater in the subsarcolemmal skeletal muscle mitochondria from cold-acclimated chickens than that for control birds. An increase in mRNA levels of avANT and, to lesser degree, of avUCP in the skeletal muscle of cold-acclimated chickens was also found. Taken together, the present studies on cold-acclimated chickens suggest that the simultaneous increments in levels of avANT and avUCP mRNA expression may be involved in the regulation of thermogenesis in skeletal muscle.     

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.     

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.     

棕榈酸对模拟高原低氧大鼠离体脑线粒体解耦联蛋白活性及质子漏的影响

本文旨在通过观察棕榈酸对模拟高原低氧大鼠离体脑线粒体解耦联蛋白(uncoupling proteins,UCPs)活性的影响及脑线粒体质子漏与膜电位的改变,探讨UCPs在介导游离脂肪酸对低氧时线粒体氧化磷酸化功能改变中的作用.将SpragueDawley大鼠随机分为对照组、急性低氧组和慢性低氧组.低氧大鼠于低压舱内模拟海拔5 000 m高原23 h/d作低氧暴露,分别连续低氧3 d和30 d.用差速密度梯度离心法提取脑线粒体,[3H-GTP法测定UCPs含量与活性,TPMP 电极与Clark氧电极结合法测量线粒体质子漏,罗丹明123荧光法测定线粒体膜电位.结果显示,低氧使脑线粒体内UCPs含量与活性升高、质子漏增加、线粒体膜电位降低;同时,低氧暴露降低脑线粒体对棕榈酸的反应性,UCPs活性的改变率低于对照组,且线粒体UCPs含量、质子漏、膜电位变化率亦出现相同趋势.线粒体质子漏与反映UCPs活性的Kd值呈线性负相关(P<0.01 r=-0.906),与反映UCPs含量的Bmax呈线性正相关(P<0.01,r=0.856),与膜电位呈线性负相关(P<0.01,r=-0.880).以上结果提示,低氧导致的脑线粒体质子漏增加及膜电位降低与线粒体内UCPs活性升高有关,同时低氧暴露能降低脑线粒体对棕榈酸的反应性,提示在高原低氧环境下,游离脂肪酸升高在维持线粒体能量代谢中起着自身保护和调节机制.     

The preservation of in vivo phosphorylated and activated uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) in isolated skeletal muscle mitochondria following administration of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA aka ecstasy) to rats/mice

Previous researchers have demonstrated that 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) induced hyperthermia, in skeletal muscle of animals, is uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) dependent. In light of our investigations that in vivo phosphorylation of UCP1 is augmented under conditions of cold-acclimation, we set out to investigate whether (a) UCP3 was phosphorylated in vivo and (b) whether in vivo phosphorylation of UCP3 resulted in increased proton leak following MDMA administration to animals. Our data demonstrate that MDMA treatment (but not PBS treatment) of animals results in both in vivo serine and tyrosine phosphorylation of UCP3 in skeletal muscle mitochondria, isolated in the presence of phosphatase inhibitors to preserve in vivo phosphorylation. In addition, proton leak is only increased in skeletal muscle mitochondria isolated from MDMA treated animals (in the presence of phosphatase inhibitors) and the increased proton leak is due to phosphorylated UCP3. UCP3 abundance in skeletal muscle mitochondria is unaffected by MDMA administration. Preservation of UCP3 phosphorylation and increased proton leak is lost when skeletal muscle mitochondria are isolated in the absence of phosphatase inhibitors. We conclude that MDMA treatment of animals increases proton leak in skeletal muscle mitochondria by activating UCP3 through in vivo covalent modification of UCP3 by phosphorylation. Furthermore, we deduce that the MDMA induced hyperthermia in skeletal muscle is due to increased proton leak in vivo as a result of activation of UCP3 through phosphorylation.     

Role of UCP3 in state 4 respiration during contractile activity-induced mitochondrial biogenesis.

In an effort to better characterize uncoupling protein-3 (UCP3) function in skeletal muscle, we assessed basal UCP3 protein content in rat intermyofibrillar (IMF) and subsarcolemmal (SS) mitochondrial subfractions in conjunction with measurements of state 4 respiration. UCP3 content was 1.3-fold (P < 0.05) greater in IMF compared with SS mitochondria. State 4 respiration was 2.6-fold greater (P < 0.05) in the IMF subfraction than in SS mitochondria. GDP attenuated state 4 respiration by approximately 40% (P < 0.05) in both subfractions. The UCP3 activator oleic acid (OA) significantly increased state 4 respiration in IMF mitochondria only. We used chronic electrical stimulation (3 h/day for 7 days) to investigate the relationship between changes in UCP3 protein expression and alterations in state 4 respiration during contractile activity-induced mitochondrial biogenesis. UCP3 content was increased by 1.9- and 2.3-fold in IMF and SS mitochondria, respectively, which exceeded the concurrent 40% (P < 0.05) increase in cytochrome-c oxidase activity. Chronic contractile activity increased state 4 respiration by 1.4-fold (P < 0.05) in IMF mitochondria, but no effect was observed in the SS subfraction. The uncoupling function of UCP3 accounted for 50-57% of the OA-induced increase in state 4 respiration in IMF mitochondria, which was independent of the induced twofold difference in UCP3 content due to chronic contractile activity. Thus modifications in UCP3 function are more important than changes in UCP3 expression in modifying state 4 respiration. This effect is evident in IMF but not SS mitochondria. We conclude that UCP3 at physiological concentrations accounts for a significant portion of state 4 respiration in both IMF and SS mitochondria, with the contribution being greater in the IMF subfraction. In addition, the contradiction between human and rat training studies with respect to UCP3 protein expression may partly be explained by the greater than twofold difference in mitochondrial UCP3 content between rat and human skeletal muscle.     

Increased uncoupling proteins and decreased efficiency in palmitate-perfused hyperthyroid rat heart

The physiological role of mitochondrial uncoupling proteins (UCPs) in heart and skeletal muscle is unknown, as is whether mitochondrial uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation by fatty acids occurs in vivo. In this study, we found that UCP2 and UCP3 protein content, determined using Western blotting, was increased by 32 and 48%, respectively, in hyperthyroid rat heart mitochondria. Oligomycin-insensitive respiration rate, a measure of mitochondrial uncoupling, was increased in all mitochondria in the presence of palmitate: 36% in controls and 71 and 100% with 0.8 and 0.9 mM palmitate, respectively, in hyperthyroid rat heart mitochondria. In the isolated working heart, 0.4 mM palmitate significantly lowered cardiac output by 36% and cardiac efficiency by 38% in the hyperthyroid rat heart. Thus increased mitochondrial UCPs in the hyperthyroid rat heart were associated with increased uncoupling and decreased myocardial efficiency in the presence of palmitate. In conclusion, a physiological effect of UCPs on fatty acid oxidation has been found in heart at the mitochondrial and whole organ level.     

Cold tolerance of UCP1-ablated mice: A skeletal muscle mitochondria switch toward lipid oxidation with marked UCP3 up-regulation not associated with increased basal,fatty acid- or ROS-induced uncoupling or enhanced GDP effects

Mice lacking the thermogenic mitochondrial membrane protein UCP1 (uncoupling protein 1) - and thus all heat production from brown adipose tissue - can still adapt to a cold environment (4 °C) if successively transferred to the cold. The mechanism behind this adaptation has not been clarified. To examine possible adaptive processes in the skeletal muscle, we isolated mitochondria from the hind limb muscles of cold-acclimated wild-type and UCP1(–/–) mice and examined their bioenergetic chracteristics. We observed a switch in metabolism, from carbohydrate towards lipid catabolism, and an increased total mitochondrial complement, with an increased total ATP production capacity. The UCP1(–/–) muscle mitochondria did not display a changed state-4 respiration rate (no uncoupling) and were less sensitive to the uncoupling effect of fatty acids than the wild-type mitochondria. The content of UCP3 was increased 3-4 fold, but despite this, endogenous superoxide could not invoke a higher proton leak, and the small inhibitory effect of GDP was unaltered, indicating that it was not mediated by UCP3. Double mutant mice (UCP1(–/–) plus superoxide dismutase 2-overexpression) were not more cold sensitive than UCP1(–/–), bringing into question an involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in activation of any alternative thermogenic mechanism. We conclude that there is no evidence for an involvement of UCP3 in basal, fatty-acid- or superoxide-stimulated oxygen consumption or in GDP sensitivity. The adaptations observed did not imply any direct alternative process for nonshivering thermogenesis but the adaptations observed would be congruent with adaptation to chronically enhanced muscle activity caused by incessant shivering in these mice.     

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.     

Differences in proton leak kinetics, but not in UCP3 protein content, in subsarcolemmal and intermyofibrillar skeletal muscle mitochondria from fed and fasted rats

We have investigated the effect of 24-h fasting on basal proton leak and uncoupling protein (UCP) 3 expression at the protein level in subsarcolemmal and intermyofibrillar skeletal muscle mitochondria. In fed rats, the two mitochondrial populations displayed different proton leak, but the same protein content of UCP3. In addition, 24-h fasting, both at 24 and 29 degrees C, induced an increase in proton leak only in subsarcolemmal mitochondria, while UCP3 content increased in both the populations. From the present data, it appears that UCP3 does not control the basal proton leak of skeletal muscle mitochondria.     

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 approximately 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 degrees C and that UCP 3 expression is decreased (1.4-fold) in rats acclimated to 30 degrees 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.     

The basal proton conductance of skeletal muscle mitochondria from transgenic mice overexpressing or lacking uncoupling protein-3.

The ability of native uncoupling protein-3 (UCP3) to uncouple mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation is controversial. We measured the expression level of UCP3 and the proton conductance of skeletal muscle mitochondria isolated from transgenic mice overexpressing human UCP3 (UCP3-tg) and from UCP3 knockout (UCP3-KO) mice. The concentration of UCP3 in UCP3-tg mitochondria was approximately 3 microg/mg protein, approximately 20-fold higher than the wild type value. UCP3-tg mitochondria had increased nonphosphorylating respiration rates, decreased respiratory control, and approximately 4-fold increased proton conductance compared with the wild type. However, this increased uncoupling in UCP3-tg mitochondria was not caused by native function of UCP3 because it was not proportional to the increase in UCP3 concentration and was neither activated by superoxide nor inhibited by GDP. UCP3 was undetectable in mitochondria from UCP3-KO mice. Nevertheless, UCP3-KO mitochondria had unchanged respiration rates, respiratory control ratios, and proton conductance compared with the wild type under a variety of assay conditions. We conclude that uncoupling in UCP3-tg mice is an artifact of transgenic expression, and that UCP3 does not catalyze the basal proton conductance of skeletal muscle mitochondria in the absence of activators such as superoxide.