Uncoupling protein

An uncoupling protein is a mitochondrial inner membrane protein that can dissipate the proton gradient before it can be used to provide the energy for oxidative phosphorylation.^[1]

There are five types known in mammals:

UCP1, also known as thermogenin
UCP2
UCP3
SLC25A27, also known as "UCP4"
SLC25A14, also known as "UCP5"

Uncoupling proteins play a role in normal physiology, as in hibernation, because the energy is used to generate heat (see thermogenesis) instead of producing ATP. However, other substances such as 2,4-Dinitrophenol and CCCP also serve the same uncoupling function, and are considered poisonous. Ethanol and salicyclic acid are also uncoupling agents and will deplete the body of ATP and increase body temperature if taken in excess.

References

^ Nedergaard J, Ricquier D, Kozak LP (2005). "Uncoupling proteins: current status and therapeutic prospects". EMBO Rep. 6 (10): 917–21. doi:10.1038/sj.embor.7400532. PMC 1369193. PMID 16179945. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1369193.

External links

MeSH Uncoupling+Agents

Mitochondrial proteins

Outer membrane	fatty acid degradation (Carnitine palmitoyltransferase I, Long fatty acyl CoA synthetase) tryptophan metabolism (Kynureninase) monoamine neurotransmitter metabolism (Monoamine oxidase)

Intermembrane space	Adenylate kinase - Creatine kinase

Inner membrane	oxidative phosphorylation (Coenzyme Q - cytochrome c reductase, Cytochrome c, NADH dehydrogenase, Succinate dehydrogenase) pyrimidine metabolism (Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase) mitochondrial shuttle (Malate-aspartate shuttle, Glycerol phosphate shuttle) other (Glutamate aspartate transporter, Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, ATP synthase, Carnitine palmitoyltransferase II, Uncoupling protein)

Matrix	citric acid cycle (Citrate synthase, Aconitase, Isocitrate dehydrogenase, Oxoglutarate dehydrogenase, Succinyl coenzyme A synthetase, Fumarase, Malate dehydrogenase) anaplerotic reactions (Aspartate transaminase, Glutamate dehydrogenase, Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex) urea cycle (Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase I, Ornithine transcarbamylase, N-Acetylglutamate synthase) alcohol metabolism (ALDH2) PMPCB

Other/to be sorted	steroidogenesis (Cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme, Steroid 11-beta-hydroxylase, Aldosterone synthase), Frataxin Mitochondrial membrane transport protein (Mitochondrial permeability transition pore, Mitochondrial carrier)

Mitochondrial DNA	Complex I (MT-ND1, MT-ND2, MT-ND3, MT-ND4, MT-ND4L, MT-ND5, MT-ND6) - Complex III (MT-CYB) - Complex IV (MT-CO1, MT-CO2, MT-CO3) ATP synthase (MT-ATP6, MT-ATP8) tRNA (MT-TA, MT-TC, MT-TD, MT-TE, MT-TF, MT-TG, MT-TH, MT-TI, MT-TK, MT-TL1, MT-TL2, MT-TM, MT-TN, MT-TP, MT-TQ, MT-TR, MT-TS1, MT-TS2, MT-TT, MT-TV, MT-TW, MT-TY)

see also mitochondrial diseases B strc: edmb (perx), skel (ctrs), epit, cili, mito, nucl (chro)