ARS | Publication request: Genomic Structure and Expression Patterns of Uncoupling Protein 2 Genes in Rainbow Trout

Submitted to: Plant and Animal Genome Conference
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: December 15, 2005
Publication Date: December 15, 2005
Citation: Coulibaly, I., Gahr, S.A., Palti, Y., Yao, J., Rexroad III, C.E. 2005. Genomic structure and expression patterns of uncoupling protein 2 genes in rainbow trout. Plant and Animal Genome Conference. Abstract ID W188, page 50.

Technical Abstract: Uncoupling proteins (UCPs) are anion transporters of the inner mitochondrial membrane that uncouple the respiratory chain from ATP synthesis. We report the first description of UCPs in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Two UCP2 genes were identified, UCP-2A and UCP-2B. These genes are 93% similar in their predicted amino acid sequences and display the same genomic structure (8 exons and 7 introns) spanning 4.2 kb and 3.2 kb, respectively. UCP-2A and UCP-2B were observed to be widely expressed in all tissues of the study with a predominant level in macrophage-rich tissues and reproductive organs. In juvenile fish muscle we observed an increase in UCP-2B expression in response to fasting and a decrease after refeeding in agreement with previous studies in human, mouse, rat, and marsupials. The converse regulatory pattern was observed for UCP-2A mRNA which decreases during fasting, suggesting differential metabolic roles for UCP-2A and UCP-2B in rainbow trout muscle. Phylogenetic analysis including other genes from the UCP core family located rainbow trout UCP-2A and UCP-2B with their orthologs suggesting an early divergence of vertebrate UCPs from a common ancestor gene.