Uncoupling proteins constitute a subgroup of mitochondrial carrier proteins that are located in the inner mitochondrial membrane. By dissipating proton gradients, they act to uncouple respiration from oxidative phosphorylation and convert fuel to heat. Four homologous UCP isoforms have been identified. UCP-1, the first UCP to be described, is found exclusively in brown adipose tissue, UCP-2 in several tissues, UCP-3 in human skeletal muscle and rat brown adipose tissue and skeletal muscle, whereas UCP-4 is expressed in the brain. Expression […]
