Recombinant Rat Mitochondrial Brown Fat Uncoupling Protein 1 (Ucp1) is a genetically engineered version of the thermogenic protein Ucp1, which is natively expressed in brown adipose tissue (BAT). Ucp1 facilitates proton leakage across the mitochondrial inner membrane, uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation from ATP synthesis to generate heat. Recombinant Ucp1 is produced in heterologous systems such as mammalian cells (e.g., HEK293) or yeast for functional and structural studies, enabling detailed analysis of its role in energy metabolism and thermoregulation .
Contrary to earlier assumptions of dimerization, Ucp1 functions as a monomer with a molecular weight of ~33 kDa . Each monomer binds:
1 purine nucleotide (e.g., GDP/GTP) at physiological concentrations .
3 cardiolipin molecules, critical for structural stability and activity .
Arginine-92 (R92) and Glutamate-191 (E191): Essential for fatty acid activation and nucleotide inhibition .
Exhibits valinomycin-induced proton conductance (up to 25 H⁺/s⁻¹) when reconstituted in phosphatidylcholine liposomes .
| System | Ucp1 Expression Level | Activity Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HEK293 cells | 4.8 µg/mg protein | No uncoupling artifacts; GDP-sensitive |
| Yeast | ~1 µg/mg protein | Artifactual uncoupling at high levels |
| CHO cells | 1 µg/mg protein | Partial GDP sensitivity |
R92E/E191R double mutant: Reduces fatty acid-activated respiration by 55% and abolishes GDP inhibition .
Thermogenesis assays: Measures proton leak kinetics in response to fatty acids/nucleotides .
Obesity research: Ucp1 activation increases energy expenditure, making it a therapeutic target .
The Rat Ucp1 ELISA Kit (Detection range: 0.156–10 ng/mL; Sensitivity: 0.091 ng/mL) enables precise measurement in serum, plasma, and tissue homogenates .