UCP3
Description
The UCP3 (uncoupling protein 3) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 11.
UCP3, encoded by the UCP3 gene located on chromosome 11q13.4, is a protein embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane. It belongs to the mitochondrial anion carrier protein (MACP) family and plays a role in energy regulation. UCP3 facilitates the transfer of anions across the inner mitochondrial membrane, leading to a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. This uncoupling effect reduces ATP synthesis but generates heat, contributing to thermogenesis. UCP3 also reduces the production of reactive oxygen species. Similar to UCP1, UCP3 is involved in heat generation, while its expression is primarily observed in skeletal muscle, unlike UCP1, which is highly expressed in brown adipocytes. UCP2, on the other hand, is found in various tissues.
Putative transmembrane transporter involved in mitochondrial metabolism, with its exact mechanism still unclear (PubMed:21775425, PubMed:36114012). Originally proposed to function as a proton transporter across the mitochondrial membrane, leading to proton leakage and decoupling of ATP synthesis (PubMed:9305858, PubMed:11171965, PubMed:12670931, PubMed:12734183). However, this uncoupling function remains controversial, and it may be a secondary effect of its primary role as a metabolite transporter (PubMed:11707458).
UCP3 is also known as SLC25A9.
