mitochondrial uncoupling protein 4; UCP 4; solute carrier family 25 member 27 (SLC25A27, UCP4, UNQ772/PRO1566)

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
• may play a role in thermoregulatory heat production & metabolism in brain

Structure

• belongs to the mitochondrial carrier family
• contains 3 solcar repeats

Compartment

mitochondrial inner membrane

Expression

• found in adult & fetal brain
• present in most brain tissues
• low levels in spinal cord, corpus callosum & substantia nigra

More general terms

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

Database

• Kegg: http://www.genome.jp/dbget-bin/www_bget?hsa:9481
• UniProt: http://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/O95847.html