Difference between revisions of "Part:BBa K141000"

Revision as of 14:41, 8 October 2008

Ucp1

Ucp1 is a gene which encodes for UCP1 protein.

The uncoupling protein UCP1 is a proton carrier characteristic of brown adipose tissue. UCP1 uncouples the respiratory chain of ATP production, converting the metabolic energy in heat.

UCP1 is a 33kd protein which is exclusively located in the brown adipocites. It is an integral protein present in inner mitocondrial membrane.

The protein has a tripartite structure. The structure displays an around 100 residues region which is three times repeated. Each part encodes for two transmembrane segments and one long hydrophilic loop.The functional carrier unit is an homodimer.

The main difference between UCP1 and most of the proteins with a nuclear codification is the lack of the importation targeting to the mitochondria in UCP+ proteins. The condition that determines the mitochondria as the protein target lays in the first loop which protudes in the mitochondrial matrix.

The second loop of the matrix is essential for the insertion of the protein in the inner mitochondrial matrix. Purine nucleotides act as inhibitors of protein activity and esterificated fatty acids act as inductors.

Sequence and Features