Biology:UCP2

Short description: Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

Generic protein structure example

Mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the UCP2 gene.

Gene

Chromosomal order is 5'-UCP3-UCP2-3'.

Tissue distribution

In contrast to UCP1 and UCP3, which are primarily expressed in adipose and smooth muscle, UCP2 is expressed on many different tissues including the kidney, liver, GI tract, brain, and skeletal muscle.

Function

Mitochondrial uncoupling proteins (UCP) are members of the larger family of mitochondrial anion carrier proteins (MACP). UCPs separate, or uncouple, oxidative phosphorylation from ATP synthesis by dissipating the mitochondrial membrane potential as heat, also referred to as the mitochondrial proton leak. UCPs facilitate the transfer of anions from the inner to the outer mitochondrial membrane and the return transfer of protons from the outer to the inner mitochondrial membrane. They also reduce the mitochondrial membrane potential in mammalian cells, which reduces production of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

The exact mechanisms of anion transfer by UCPs are not known. UCPs contain the three homologous protein domains of MACPs. Although it was originally thought to play a role in non-shivering thermogenesis, obesity, diabetes and atherosclerosis, it now appears that the main function of UCP2 is the control of mitochondria-derived reactive oxygen species.

Mitochondrial Uncoupling Protein 2

See also

• Uncoupling protein

Further reading

• "The uncoupling protein homologues: UCP1, UCP2, UCP3, StUCP and AtUCP.". The Biochemical Journal 345 Pt 2 (Pt 2): 161–179. Jan 2000. doi:10.1042/0264-6021:3450161. PMID 10620491. 
• "Uncoupling protein-2: evidence for its function as a metabolic regulator.". Diabetologia 45 (2): 174–187. Feb 2002. doi:10.1007/s00125-001-0737-x. PMID 11935148. 
• "The uncoupling proteins.". Annales d'Endocrinologie 63 (2 Pt 1): 106–110. Apr 2002. PMID 11994670. 
• "Mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 in the central nervous system: neuromodulator and neuroprotector.". Biochemical Pharmacology 65 (12): 1917–1921. Jun 2003. doi:10.1016/S0006-2952(03)00143-6. PMID 12787871. 
• "Uncoupling protein 2: a novel player in neuroprotection.". Trends in Molecular Medicine 9 (12): 522–525. Dec 2003. doi:10.1016/j.molmed.2003.10.009. PMID 14659466. 
• "Oligo-capping: a simple method to replace the cap structure of eukaryotic mRNAs with oligoribonucleotides.". Gene 138 (1–2): 171–174. Jan 1994. doi:10.1016/0378-1119(94)90802-8. PMID 8125298. 
• "Uncoupling protein-2: a novel gene linked to obesity and hyperinsulinemia.". Nature Genetics 15 (3): 269–272. Mar 1997. doi:10.1038/ng0397-269. PMID 9054939. 
• "Cloning and characterization of an uncoupling protein homolog: a potential molecular mediator of human thermogenesis.". Diabetes 46 (5): 900–906. May 1997. doi:10.2337/diabetes.46.5.900. PMID 9133562. 
• "Uncoupling protein-3: a new member of the mitochondrial carrier family with tissue-specific expression.". FEBS Letters 408 (1): 39–42. May 1997. doi:10.1016/S0014-5793(97)00384-0. PMID 9180264. Bibcode: 1997FEBSL.408...39B. 
• "Construction and characterization of a full length-enriched and a 5'-end-enriched cDNA library.". Gene 200 (1–2): 149–156. Oct 1997. doi:10.1016/S0378-1119(97)00411-3. PMID 9373149. 
• "High expression of uncoupling protein 2 in foetal liver.". FEBS Letters 425 (2): 185–190. Mar 1998. doi:10.1016/S0014-5793(98)00230-0. PMID 9559644. Bibcode: 1998FEBSL.425..185H. 
• "Structure and organization of the human uncoupling protein 2 gene and identification of a common biallelic variant in Caucasian and African-American subjects.". Diabetes 47 (4): 685–687. Apr 1998. doi:10.2337/diabetes.47.4.685. PMID 9568704. 
• "Structural organization and mutational analysis of the human uncoupling protein-2 (hUCP2) gene.". Life Sciences 64 (3): PL41–PL50. 1999. doi:10.1016/S0024-3205(98)00555-4. PMID 10027754. 
• "Functional organization of the human uncoupling protein-2 gene, and juxtaposition to the uncoupling protein-3 gene.". Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 255 (1): 40–46. Feb 1999. doi:10.1006/bbrc.1998.0146. PMID 10082652. 
• "Specific sequence of motifs of mitochondrial uncoupling proteins.". IUBMB Life 49 (1): 63–70. Jan 2000. doi:10.1080/713803586. PMID 10772343. 
• "Uncoupling proteins 2 and 3 interact with members of the 14.3.3 family.". European Journal of Biochemistry 267 (9): 2680–2687. May 2000. doi:10.1046/j.1432-1327.2000.01285.x. PMID 10785390. 
• "A common polymorphism in the promoter of UCP2 is associated with decreased risk of obesity in middle-aged humans.". Nature Genetics 28 (2): 178–183. Jun 2001. doi:10.1038/88911. PMID 11381268. 
• "Superoxide activates mitochondrial uncoupling proteins.". Nature 415 (6867): 96–99. Jan 2002. doi:10.1038/415096a. PMID 11780125. Bibcode: 2002Natur.415...96E. 
• "Uncoupling protein 2 and 4 expression pattern during stem cell differentiation provides new insight into their putative function". PLOS ONE 9 (2). 2014. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0088474. PMID 24523901. Bibcode: 2014PLoSO...988474R. 
• "Quantification of uncoupling protein 2 reveals its main expression in immune cells and selective up-regulation during T-cell proliferation". PLOS ONE 7 (8). 2012. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0041406. PMID 22870219. Bibcode: 2012PLoSO...741406R. 
• "Mitochondria contribute to LPS-induced MAPK activation via uncoupling protein UCP2 in macrophages". Biochem. J. 402 2007 (2): 271–278. 2007. doi:10.1042/BJ20061430. PMID 17073824.