The regulation of body weight depends upon the calorie intake and expenditure. It is a very complex and highly regulated process. It involves multiples neural circuits with specific neuropeptides, neurotransmitter transporters and receptors and influenced by peripheral signals. The product of obese gene (Leptin) may influence many of these processes. White and brown adipose tissues (WAT and BAT, respectively) play a central role in body weight and energy expenditure. WAT is the major site for energy storage via triglyceride synthesis and mobilization via lipolysis. Uncoupling proteins (UCP1-4) are a family of mitochondria transprt proteins that play a critical role in thermoregulatory heat production and maintenance of basal metabolic rate. BAT is able to dissipate energy as heat via uncoupled mitochondrial respiration by a mitochondrial anion carrier, uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). UCP1 is predicted to contain 6 trans-membrane (TM) domains, a putative purine nucleotide-binding domain (PNBD) and three-mitochondrial energy transfer protein domains (ETPDs). Both amino and C-termini are predicted to be cytoplasmic. UCP1 is a member of the mitochondrial carrier protein family, which includes the ATP/ADP translocator, the phosphate, the 2-oxoglutarate/malate and the citrate (tricarboxylate) carriers. UCP1 plays an important role in thermoregulation in hibernating animals, neonates, and it contributes to rodent cold- and diet induced thermogenesis.
Because of the restricted expression of UCP1 and the lack of BAT in adult animals and humans, UCP1 may not be important in body weight regulation/energy expenditure in adults. Recently a novel UCP2, a homologue of UCP1, has been identified. In contrast with UCP1, UCP2 is widely expressed in adult human tissues and it is unregulated in WAT in response to fat intake. UCP2 is 59% homologous with UCP1. In the WAT of ob/ob and db/db mice, UCP2 expression is greatly elevated when compared to lean animals. Therefore, UCP2 has been implicated in the regulation of energy balance, body weight, and thermoregulation. Skeletal muscle contributes up to 40% of whole body epinephrine-induced thermogenesis in humans.
Another homologue of UCPs, UCP3, has been cloned from human skeletal muscle. Human UCP3 protein (312 aa) has 71% and 57% homology with UCP2 and UCP1, respectively. The long (309 aa) and mature form of UCP3 is designated as UCP3L; UCP3s lacks the 6th potential TM domain and the PNBD domain implicated in the control of coupling efficiency of UCP1. Both forms of UCP3 are expressed in muscle. UCP3 expression is highly specific for skeletal muscle and it is unaffected by cold acclimation. It is also expressed in BAT of animals. UCP3 could play a critical role in energy expenditure and its regulation.
Applications
Suitable for use in ELISA, Western Blotting. Other applications not tested.
Recommended Dilution
Western Blot: 1:1000-1:5000 for neat serum and 1-10ug/ml for affinity pure using ECL. An antibody made to this epitope has detected approx. 32kD protein in brown adipose tissues (3). ELISA: 1:10,000-1:100,000 using 50-100ng UCP1 control peptide/well.
Optimal dilutions to be determined by the researcher.
Storage and Stability
Lyophilized powder may be stored at -20°C. Stable for 12 months at -20°C. Reconstitute with sterile ddH2O or PBS. Aliquot to avoid repeated freezing and thawing. Store at -20°C. Reconstituted product is stable for 12 months at -20°C. For maximum recovery of product, centrifuge the original vial after thawing and prior to removing the cap. Further dilutions can be made in assay buffer.
Immunogen
A 12 amino acid peptide sequence at the C-terminus of the mouse/rat UCP1 (1) was used to generate anti- UCP1. The peptide was coupled with KLH (carrier protein)
Form
Supplied as a lyophilized powder from PBS, 0.05% sodium azide.
Purity
Affinity purified over the control-peptide Sepharose
Specificity
The 12 AA immunogenic peptide sequences show homologies of 100% with rat, 91% with hamster (11/12 aa), 83% with rabbit (10/12 aa) and 70% with human (9/12 aa) UCP1. The UCP1 peptide has no significant homology with UCP2 or UCP3. Antibody crossreactivity in various species is not established. Control peptides, because of their low MW (<3kD), are not suitable for Western. It should be used for ELISA or antibody blocking to confirm antibody specificity
TDS
NCBI
UniProt
Tech Support
Customer Service
