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Cloning of rat uncoupling protein‐3 and uncoupling protein‐2 cDNAs: their gene expression in rats fed high‐fat diet
Author(s) -
Matsuda Junichi,
Hosoda Kiminori,
Itoh Hiroshi,
Son Cheol,
Doi Kentaro,
Tanaka Tokuji,
Fukunaga Yasutomo,
Inoue Gen,
Nishimura Haruo,
Yoshimasa Yasunao,
Yamori Yukio,
Nakao Kazuwa
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(97)01381-1
Subject(s) - uncoupling protein , cloning (programming) , gene , protein expression , gene expression , thermogenin , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , medicine , endocrinology , biochemistry , adipose tissue , brown adipose tissue , computer science , programming language
In order to elucidate energy balance in the skeletal muscle, we cloned cDNA of a homologue of uncoupling protein (UCP) from rat skeletal muscle. We also cloned rat UCP‐2 cDNA from rat brown adipose tissue (BAT). The UCP cloned from rat skeletal muscle showed 57% and 72% identity with rat UCP‐1 and UCP‐2. The mRNA was expressed abundantly in the skeletal muscle, moderately in the BAT, and slightly in the white adipose tissue (WAT) with a major band at 2.5 kb and a minor band at 2.8 kb, while the UCP‐2 gene expression was widely detected in the whole body with substantial levels in the WAT and with slight levels in the skeletal muscle and BAT. The rat UCP cloned in the present study showed 86% identity with the recently cloned human UCP‐3, which was also expressed abundantly in the skeletal muscle with a signal of 2.4 kb. Therefore, the rat UCP was considered to be rat UCP‐3. In rats fed high‐fat diet the UCP‐3 gene expression was augmented 2‐fold in the skeletal muscle while UCP‐2 mRNA levels were increased significantly (1.6‐fold) in the epididymal WAT. Augmented expression of UCPs may provide defense against high‐fat induced obesity and impairment of glucose metabolism.