Jarmuszkiewicz Wiesława, Woyda-Płoszczyca Andrzej
Instytut Biologii Molekularnej i Biotechnologii, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza, Poznań.
Postepy Biochem. 2008;54(2):179-87.
Uncoupling proteins (UCPs), members of mitochondrial carrier family, are present in mitochondrial inner membrane and mediate free fatty acid-activated, purine-nucleotide-inhibited H+ re-uptake. UCPs can modulate the tightness of coupling between mitochondrial respiration and ATP synthesis. A physiological function of the first described UCP, UCP1 or termogenin, present in mitochondria of mammalian brown adipose tissues is well established. UCP1 plays a role in nonshivering thermogenesis in mammals. The widespread presence of UCPs in eukaryotes, in non-thermogenic tissues of animals, plants and in unicellular organisms implies that these proteins may elicit other functions than thermogenesis. However, the physiological functions of UCP1 homologues are still under debate. They can regulate energy metabolism through modulation of the electrochemical proton gradient and production of ROS. Functional activation of UCPs is proposed to decrease ROS production. Moreover, products of lipid peroxidation can activate UCPs and promote feedback down-regulation of mitochondrial ROS production.
解偶联蛋白（UCPs）是线粒体载体家族成员，存在于线粒体内膜，介导游离脂肪酸激活、嘌呤核苷酸抑制的H⁺再摄取。UCPs可调节线粒体呼吸与ATP合成之间偶联的紧密程度。首个被描述的UCP，即存在于哺乳动物棕色脂肪组织线粒体中的UCP1或产热蛋白，其生理功能已得到充分证实。UCP1在哺乳动物的非颤抖性产热中发挥作用。UCPs在真核生物、动物和植物的非产热组织以及单细胞生物中广泛存在，这意味着这些蛋白质可能具有除产热之外的其他功能。然而，UCP1同源物的生理功能仍存在争议。它们可通过调节电化学质子梯度和活性氧（ROS）的产生来调节能量代谢。UCPs的功能激活被认为可减少ROS的产生。此外，脂质过氧化产物可激活UCPs并促进线粒体ROS产生的反馈下调。
