mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2; UCP 2; UCPH (UCP2 SLC25A8)

Function

• mitochondrial transporter protein that creates proton leaks across the inner mitochondrial membrane, thus uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation from ATP synthesis
• as a result, energy is dissipated in the form of heat
• acts as a dimer forming a proton channel (putative)

Structure

• belongs to the mitochondrial carrier family
• contains 3 solcar repeats
• 59% identical to UCP-1

Compartment

mitochondrial inner membrane

Expression

• widely expressed in adult human tissues, including tissues rich in macrophages
• highest expression in white adipose tissue & skeletal muscle

Polymorphism

• genetic variation in UCP2 influences susceptibility to obesity
• gene maps to region of chromosome 11 linked to hyperinsulinemia & obesity (body mass index quantitative trait locus type 4) (BMIQ4)

More general terms

• uncoupling protein
• solute carrier family 25 (SLC25, SLC25A)

Database

• Kegg: http://www.genome.jp/dbget-bin/www_bget?hsa:7351
• OMIM: https://mirror.omim.org/entry/601693
• OMIM: https://mirror.omim.org/entry/607447
• UniProt: http://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/P55851.html
• Entrez gene: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=gene&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Graphics&list_uids=7351